Start with the question a report actually answers. This guide offers a reading worksheet for research papers and analytical documents. It does not recommend compounds or provide instructions for personal use.
For definitions of the terms used here, see our research glossary.
Keep two questions separate
A laboratory report may describe a tested material. A research paper may describe an experiment. Record each separately rather than using either document as a substitute for the other.
For material documentation, start with our COA guide, purity explanation and storage-record guidance.
A worksheet for reading a study
| Question | What to record |
|---|---|
| What was tested? | Exact material, preparation and comparison groups reported by the authors |
| Where was it tested? | Laboratory system, animal model or human participants |
| How was it assessed? | Study design, methods and observation period |
| What was measured? | The stated outcomes and the results for those outcomes |
| What remains uncertain? | Limitations, missing information and questions for further work |
Use precise evidence labels
In vitro describes work outside the body; a clinical trial evaluates medical approaches in people. Keep the model visible when summarizing findings. Avoid replacing a specific result with a broad statement that a material works.
Write a traceable summary
Use this sentence pattern: “In [the reported model], investigators tested [the identified material], measured [the stated outcome], and reported [the result]. The main limitation for this question is [the documented limitation].” Leave an item unresolved if the paper does not supply it.
Before sharing a summary
Check that the cited paper is the one described, that the material and outcome match, and that the conclusion stays within the report. This worksheet is an editorial reading aid, not a scientific quality score or an endorsement of any material.
Sources: NCI: in vitro, NCI: clinical trial, and ICH Q2(R2) for analytical-method specificity. The worksheet is original editorial guidance.
