Understanding scientific research
From the SciLine toolkit: Evidence-based reporting tools and tips for 2025
Academic research papers contain key insights into societal problems, but they can be challenging to parse during the reporting process. We’ve pulled together resources to help you find and read scientific research papers, as well as identify expert sources who can assist you in interpreting and reporting on them.
Finding and reading scientific papers
Gaining access to the full text of scientific papers can be a challenge in its own right, so start with these ways journalists can access academic research for free. As you identify papers, it’s important to keep in mind whether or not a text is peer reviewed, so see this context on peer review next. With research papers in hand, use this guide to reading a scientific paper to understand where to start and the right order to read different sections of the paper. While reading, see this overview of five common research designs to contextualize why the authors took a particular approach to investigate the problem at hand.
Statistics
The studies you report on will often contain statistics, and these numbers can strengthen your stories by backing up claims or reinforcing concepts. See this guide to six important statistics terms for covering science, then drill down into statistical significance with five important things to know.
Consulting expert sources
Once you’ve read relevant scientific papers, interviews with expert sources will help you get the science right. Use these tips for finding scientific sources, and keep in mind the many dimensions of diversity as you seek to include diverse sources in your story.
Tips and pitfalls
One of the most common mistakes in science reporting is saying that a study “proves” something. Instead, use these tips for reporting on the conclusiveness of research findings, and be sure to also include context on how a study fits into the body of research on that question. Finish with guidance on avoiding mistakes in health and medical news headlines, and these tips for using academic research in investigative journalism.
The resources below will help you dig deeper into these issues:
- Overview of resources for understanding scientific research by Sara Whitlock, SciLine
- Covering scientific consensus by Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist’s Resource
- Making sense of scientific studies by SciLine and The Open Notebook
- Using academic research to do investigative reporting by Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist’s Resource
- 5 common research designs: A quick primer for journalists by Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist’s Resource
- 8 ways journalists can access academic research for free by Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist’s Resource
- Finding expert scientific sources by SciLine and The Open Notebook
- Finding and including diverse sources by SciLine and The Open Notebook.
- Don’t say ‘prove:’ reporting on the conclusiveness of scientific research by Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist’s Resource
- What’s peer review? 5 things you should know before covering research by Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist’s Resource
- 5 tips for avoiding mistakes in news headlines about health and medical research by Denise-Marie Ordway, The Journalist’s Resource
- Statistics terms for covering science by SciLine and The Open Notebook