It can be very tough and intimidating to read research papers, especially when they are full of technical terms and jargon. Suppose you started reading a paper and read a few sentences and thought, What the hell on earth does that mean? Whether you are just a beginner, a researcher, or someone just interested in reading, a paper full of complications is hard to read.
Well, if you have ever experienced this, then you are not alone because research writing has always been so complicated, and everyone feels the same while reading it. Every difficult term paper can be understood with the right strategy. So if you are in such a situation, then don’t worry because we are here to help you out.
In this detailed blog, we will discuss how to handle difficult terms in a research paper. When you read, you will be confident enough to understand the term and be informed. So let us get started.
Strategies to Understand Complex Terminologies in Research Papers
1. Begin with the abstract and introduction.
Before moving on to the more intricate parts of a research paper, take some time to carefully read the abstract and introduction. These sections frequently summarise the key findings of the study and present the fundamental ideas in more understandable language. It will be easier for you to read the more technical areas later if you first pay attention to the definitions of the authors’ terms.
If a term appears in the abstract and you don’t understand it, highlight it. Since these terms will likely be used frequently throughout the report, you should become familiar with them.
2. Make use of online tools and resources.
When unfamiliar terms appear, don’t just ignore them. Take a look and make use of some tools to understand them. A few helpful resources are as follows:
- Google Scholar Definitions: By searching for a term using the phrase “definition in research”, you can often find an accurate, academic definition.
- Wikipedia: Despite its shortcomings, it’s often a great starting point for learning basic concepts.
- Online glossaries: Free online glossaries that define technical terms in a range of fields, including psychology, medicine, and computer science, are available.
- YouTube: If you learn best visually, try searching for an explanation video. There are countless videos available where experts simplify complex topics.
Keep in mind that the key to understanding terms is often to find the explanation that makes sense to you.
3. Examine and break down the work.
It is sometimes possible to infer a word’s meaning just by breaking it up. It could be helpful to comprehend the Latin or Greek roots of many academic terms:
- “Neurobiology” is a combination of the words “neuro” (nervous system) and “biology” (science of life).
- The term “photosynthesis” combines the words “photo” (light) and “synthesis” (to build or create).
Even though it doesn’t give you the full meaning, this can give you a general idea of what the word means.
4. Look for Contextual Cues
Like ordinary reading, research papers often give hints about a term’s meaning based on how it is used in sentences. Take this example:
“Higher levels of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, were observed in participants.”
The sentence provides you a hint, even if you were unaware of what cortisol is: it’s a hormone associated with stress.
Take note of the phrases that come before and after the term. Authors frequently use context to subtly explain unfamiliar or difficult terminology.
5. Keep a terminology list.
As you progress, develop your small vocabulary list. Any new terms you learn should be noted, along with a brief definition and maybe an example sentence. As you read papers in the future, you can refer back to this list as a helpful resource.
This is very useful if you’re reading several papers on the same topic. Because many research fields use the same technical terminology, it becomes easier the more you read.
6. Make use of condensed summaries.
Many complex scientific papers are eventually summarised by science communicators in blogs, news articles, or even tweets. These summaries usually describe the study using everyday language. Try searching for the paper’s title or topic on:
- Google News
- Reddit (r/AskScience, r/ExplainLikeImFive)
- YouTube science channel
- Popular science websites (like Science Daily or The Conversation)
Read a simple language paper explaining the original one, it will help you to follow the terms and understand them.
7. Seek expert assistance
Never be afraid to ask a classmate, instructor, or even an expert in online forums who might know more than you. You are not expected to understand everything at once, and asking questions is a normal part of learning.
Sites like Quora, Reddit, and StackExchange allow you to ask specific questions about academic terms.
8. Make use of annotation tools.
Use annotation tools if you are reading a digital paper. Use tools like:
- Hypothesis (for adding public/private notes)
- Zotero and Mendeley (for organising and highlighting research )
- PDF readers with a comment feature
Highlight challenging terms and write any questions or clarifications you may have in the margins. This allows you to actively analyse the information rather than just passively reading it.
- Do not get stuck on every single word.
It’s easy to assume that you have to understand everything before moving forward, but that’s not always the case. If you encounter a challenging term that doesn’t seem necessary to the argument, try to keep going and focus on the main idea.
Sometimes understanding the overall purpose and structure of the paper will help you understand a word better.
10. Practice makes perfect
Understanding research terminology takes time and practice. Even though the first few papers you read might seem like a foreign language, the language becomes more familiar with time.
Start with articles that are simpler or easier to understand. These summaries of earlier research are often easier to read than the original studies.
Think about setting a goal: read one paper per week, focusing on understanding just one or two challenging terms at a time. Over several months, you’ll be amazed at how much your vocabulary grows.
11. Make use of AI tools.
Tools that can help simplify complicated terminology include ChatGPT and other AI writing assistants. Just ask for a breakdown by entering the term or sentence into the tool. You could say things like:
- “What is the basic definition of ‘neuroplasticity’?”
- “Can you give me a high school explanation of this paragraph?”
AI tools can offer quick, individualised explanations, but they work best when paired with your reading and critical thinking.
12. Remain calm and composed.
Finally, cultivate self-compassion. Like learning a new language, reading research papers takes practice, perseverance, and effort. Sometimes, especially when the vocabulary is unrelated to their field, even experienced researchers struggle with it.
Celebrate small victories. If you can understand one more term today than you did yesterday, you’re getting better.
Wrapping It Up
Technical terms used in research publications don’t have to be hard to understand. By following the right approach, which entails breaking down words, using resources, looking for context, and practising frequently, you can progressively improve your confidence and comprehension skills.
The more papers you read, the more comfortable you will be with the language. Eventually, you will not only understand the terms but also be able to use them to describe ideas or conduct your research.
So, keep going! Keep reading and learning because every expert was once a beginner who didn’t understand the words. Additionally, you can seek academic help from a professional and learn terms under their guidance.
