Reading research
How to read a paper properly, and where Indian work is published.
Written by Asst. Prof. Geetika Rai. For pg students · researchers.
How to read a paper properly, and where Indian work is published.
Written by Asst. Prof. Geetika Rai. For pg students · researchers.
A paper is not a verdict; it is one attempt, under conditions the authors are obliged to tell you about. Learning to read the method and the limitations before the abstract changes what a degree feels like — and it is the single most transferable thing a psychology student can learn.
| Post | The angle | |
|---|---|---|
| Read the limitations first | The most informative paragraph in any paper, and the one everybody skips. | Read → |
| Where Indian psychology is published | IJIP, IJCRT and the rest — and how to tell them apart. | not written yet |
| Spotting a predatory journal | Before it has your money. | not written yet |
The most informative paragraph in any paper, and the one everybody skips.
Most students read a paper in the order it is printed: title, abstract, and then as much of the rest as the deadline allows. That order is efficient for finding out what a paper claims and almost useless for finding out whether to believe it. I would suggest a different one, and it starts near the end.
Read more on this → 8 Aug 2026
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