Reading a Primary Paper: The Claim, the Figure and the Missing Control · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Reading a paper for what it really shows

Science · Scientific Inquiry · ages 22-24
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What is the first move when you open a paper?

    • Count the number of authors
    • Find the one sentence claim, then its supporting figure
    • Memorize every method detail in order

  2. Where do a paper's measured facts live?

    • In the results figures and tables
    • In the authors institutional logo
    • In the reference list formatting

  3. Everything asserted in a discussion section was directly shown by the data.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. How do you separate what was shown from what was inferred?

    • Trust longer sentences over shorter ones
    • Accept every abstract claim at face value
    • Sort results facts apart from discussion conclusions

  5. A figure lacks the comparison that would exclude the obvious alternative. What do you say?

    • The claim is proven regardless of controls
    • The data are suggestive but the alternative stands unexcluded
    • More discussion paragraphs would fix the gap

  6. A gum myth persisted because nobody checked the evidence. What is the reading moral?

    • Popular claims need no proof
    • Always ask where the proof is and whether it matches the claim
    • Older beliefs are always correct

  7. A discussion spins a grand story from one thin panel. How do you judge it?

    • As fact, since discussions never overreach
    • As fraud without reading further
    • As inference to weigh against what the panel actually measured

  8. An abstract claims a cure, but the key figure has no proper control arm. What is your verdict?

    • The cure is established by enthusiasm
    • Improvement was shown, but cure by the molecule was not
    • Controls are unnecessary for strong claims
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Reading a paper for what it really shows W1-mt_DZE7z5vu9X-s1

  1. Find the one sentence claim, then its supporting figure · The claim plus its figure is the heart of critical reading.
  2. In the results figures and tables · Figures in the results show what was actually measured.
  3. False · Discussions hold inferences that sometimes run ahead of the measurements.
  4. Sort results facts apart from discussion conclusions · Point at each sentence and ask whether data showed it or authors concluded it.
  5. The data are suggestive but the alternative stands unexcluded · You name the absent control and the explanation it would have excluded.
  6. Always ask where the proof is and whether it matches the claim · Good readers check whether the figure really shows what the claim says.
  7. As inference to weigh against what the panel actually measured · Both parts are useful, but only the measured part counts as evidence.
  8. Improvement was shown, but cure by the molecule was not · Without the excluding comparison, the central claim outruns its figure.
Worksheet · LightMySky