The section below are commonly found in original articles (primary articles):
Primary research articles (also called empirical/clinical studies or research articles) contain firsthand information or original data on a topic that is not interpreted, evaluated, or analyzed. These articles also include components or a variation of these components: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion (known as the IMRaD format).
Primary research articles are usually peer-reviewed (i.e. article was critically evaluated by experts in the field before accepted for publication).
What is the Peer Review Process and Why it Matters?
According to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, "peer review is the critical assessment of manuscripts submitted to journals by experts who are usually not part of the editorial staff. Because unbiased, independent, critical assessment is an intrinsic part of all scholarly work, including scientific research, peer review is an important extension of the scientific process." (ICMJE, 2017)
When searching the literature, be sure to choose peer-reviewed publications. The peer review process gives articles more authority. Keep in mind that not every item indexed in a peer-reviewed journal is an article (e.g. book reviews, letters).
When trying to determine if an article would be considered "scholarly," look at the following characteristics: