What is the Difference Between Research Article and Review Article?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

The main difference between a research article and a review article lies in the nature of the research they present. Here are the key differences:

Research Article:

  1. Based on original research: Research articles report on original research conducted by the authors, which may include experiments, surveys, interviews, or questionnaires.
  2. Primary sources: Research articles are considered empirical or primary sources, as they present firsthand information.
  3. Structure: Research articles typically include sections such as an introduction, methods, results, and discussion. 4.purpose: The purpose of a research article is to present new findings or results from a study.

Review Article:

  1. Based on existing research: Review articles, also known as literature reviews or secondary sources, synthesize or analyze research already conducted in primary sources.
  2. Summarizing existing knowledge: Review articles generally summarize the current state of research on a given topic.
  3. Types: There are three main types of review articles: narrative reviews (explaining existing knowledge based on published research), systematic reviews (searching for answers to specific questions in existing research), and meta-analyses (comparing and combining findings of previously published studies).
  4. Purpose: The purpose of a review article is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on a topic without the reader having to read all the individual primary sources.

In summary, research articles present new findings or results from original research, while review articles provide an overview of the existing knowledge on a topic based on previously published research.

Comparative Table: Research Article vs Review Article

Here is a table summarizing the differences between research articles and review articles:

Feature Research Article Review Article
Purpose Reports on original research, presents new findings, and discusses their implications. Summarizes and analyzes research already conducted in primary sources, providing an overview of the current state of research on a given topic.
Structure Typically includes sections such as introduction, methods, results, and discussion. Synthesizes or analyzes research from primary sources, focusing on the current state of knowledge.
Sources Cites primary sources (e.g., studies, experiments, surveys) to support findings. Cites secondary sources (e.g., review articles, literature reviews) to provide an overview of existing research.
Originality Presents new ideas, theories, or findings from original research. Discusses existing research, highlighting similarities, differences, and trends among various studies.
Conclusions Draws conclusions based on the results of the presented research. Provides a summary of the current state of research and may identify gaps or areas for future investigation.

Research articles report on original research and typically include sections such as introduction, methods, results, and discussion. They present new findings and discuss their implications, citing primary sources to support their findings.

Review articles, on the other hand, summarize and analyze research already conducted in primary sources, focusing on the current state of knowledge on a given topic. They cite secondary sources, such as literature reviews and other review articles, to provide an overview of existing research and may identify gaps or areas for future investigation.