Essay on the Structure of Scientific Papers: Benefits and Drawbacks

This essay examines the standardized structure of scientific papers, which typically includes an abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. The advantages of this structure include ease of writing, critiquing, and information retrieval, as well as time-saving for readers. However, the essay also points out the disadvantages, such as potential boredom and the cultivation of reader laziness, with many readers focusing only on the abstract. The author recommends regular reviews of the structure to encourage creativity and prevent stagnation in scientific writing. The essay references Abbri (2017) and Keener & Day (2015) to support its arguments.

RUNNING HEAD: STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS 1
Structure of scientific papers
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STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS 2
Structure of scientific papers
INTRODUCTION
Scientific papers always follow the same structure. The structure often involves the
abstract, introduction, results, discussion, materials, methods, goals and conclusion and
recommendations. This structure has been in place for many years. This structure is however
associated with both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
Since there is a uniform structure for all the papers, it becomes very easy for someone to
also write their own papers. Having a similar structure for writing scientific papers makes it
possible for several scientists also to publish their papers since they know what is expected of
them. This is to say they operate under an already established guideline (Keener & Day, 2015). It
could have been very difficult if the papers lack proper structure as it would be hard to find out
who is doing the wrong or the right thing.
It makes critiquing quite easier. Having a standard format of writing scientific papers
makes it possible to carry out a critique since critiquing also follows a certain format. The two
parts of research therefore goes hand in hand.
It is also easy for any individual to pick out the exact information they are interested in.
Not all those who read the journals are interested in all the information in the journal. Some are
interested in the results while others are interested in the conclusion. This standard structure
therefore makes it easier for anyone to pick his or her desired information.

STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS 3
It saves time. The structure of writing scientific papers or journals is always the same.
According to studies however, it has been established that very few people read the whole
article(Abbri, 2017). It was found out that most of the readers of the journals only read the
abstract, the methods, results and conclusion part. This therefore saves the reader’s time as they
do not have to take their precious time reading the whole article or scientific paper.
Disadvantages
It becomes very boring as every article has a same structure. Doing or seeing something
similar for quite some time leads to boredom. The act of having the same structure therefore
becomes boring and discourages scientists from even reading journals.
It cultivates a lazy culture among researchers .This act of having a similar structure
according to several studies, has cultivated laziness among different scientists. Studies have
found out that most of the readers will rarely read the whole paper. They would rather read the
abstract alone since the abstract is like a summary of the whole paper.
CONCLUSION
Scientific papers or journals are usually written using the same format or structure. The
structure includes the abstract, introduction, methods, study design, results, discussion and
finally the conclusion and the recommendation. This method has both the advantages and
disadvantages. It saves time, it is easy to make comparisons and it is quite easy for someone to
write a scientific paper. The disadvantages are that most of the readers have become lazy since
they only read the abstract which is a summary of the whole paper. Rather than having a long
lasting format, I would recommend regular reviews so as to come up with different styles of
writing after a certain some so as to impact creativity amongst researchers.

STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS 4
References
Abbri, F. (2017). Peter Dear (editor), The Literary Structure of Scientific Argument.
Historical Studies, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991, VII + 211
pp. Nuncius, 6(2), 442-444. doi:10.1163/182539191x01488
Keener, C. S., & Day, R. A. (2015). How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper. The
Bryologist, 88(1), 59. doi:10.2307/3242657