Where can everyday people and non-scientists find and access scientific studies?

Wikipedia is a useful resource for finding basic and introductory information for almost any topic.  

However, when you or someone you care about needs to weigh options, take action, learn something new, clarify advice, or make decisions based on proven scientific research—it’s critical to verify news, online sites, and opinions at the source. 

Wow your friends, read about cool discoveries, expand your conversational abilities, and stay in the know about our world and what’s happening around us by going to the original study and drawing your own conclusions!*

Below, I’ll share with you where to find journals with a wealth of (sometimes) free and proven information. Easy-to-read and accessible answers are (often) available without passwords, membership, or sign ups. 

Where can original scientific studies be found?

Original scientific studies can generally be found in one of two places:

1. Academic (aka scholarly) journal: publish studies after a process known as “peer review” (more details on this process below)

2. Preprint archives: where research studies can be written up and deposited without going through the peer review process

What Are Scientific and Academic Journals? 

Research is typically contained in journals, or periodicals similar to magazines, in which a new issue is published on a regular basis. The contents of each issue are generally in one of the following formats.

1. Original research: article that follows the format above and describes the results of a study performed by the authors.

2. Review articles: an overview of research on a particular topic that cites original articles

3. Opinion-based articles: can come in the form of “editorials,” based on topical issues, or “opinions,” which just discuss research.

4. News: Highlight recent newsworthy science advances that were not performed by the authors

Since journals are where original work is placed, they are the best way to access original scientific studies.

Whether or not a journal provides free articles is subject to the individual journal/editor. Some journals are “open access,” which means the scientists pay to publish the articles there, and the readers do not have to pay to access them. Many journals, however, are not open access and require a subscription, costing an exorbitant amount of money for the individual, to have access to all of the journal’s contents.

What is a preprint archive?

Preprint archives are websites or databases where scientists can deposit their studies for public access. These are generally free. The studies deposited here are referred to as “preprints” to distinguish them from articles that have undergone the peer review process. 

What are some examples of journals/preprint archives?

Top scientific journals, such as the following, aim to publish the most influential research. I’ve listed some and gone into detail here.

How Can I Trust What I Read in Scientific Journals? 

In order for scientists to gain credibility so everyday people and professionals can trust the results, there is a process called “peer review” with steps to follow which can take months to years, involving other scientists. Click here to read more about peer review.

What’s Next

Additional posts on this blog are topic-specific, including one about how to conduct your own informal sort of peer review yourself. I will also be posting deep dives into some of the current science fads and explore their scientific validity. Stay tuned and browse the subjects and titles matching your interests.

Not finding what you’re looking for? Make a suggestion at the bottom of every blog post in the comments section.

*The original study may be extremely technical and difficult to understand