How to Turn a Research Article into an Exciting Blog Post
If you’re a content marketer, you’re probably always looking for new things to write about. Consider doing what a lot of the big magazines do – turn a new research article into a blog post. This works well because research studies are published when there are new, often exciting discoveries about a topic. But the writing style of academic research articles is very dry. By pulling out the new findings and making them exciting, you not only have fresh, one-of-a-kind content, you’re also helping spread and share the science. Here are some important things to keep in mind when translating a research article into a blog post.
Find research articles in academic journals
Peer reviewed research articles are published in academic journals. Unless you are at a university, getting a subscription to these journals can be expensive. Luckily there is Plos One. Plos One is an open access academic publisher, which just means anyone can read the academic articles published there. You can peruse Plos One to find articles on everything from climate to health to psychology. If you want to restrict your results, you can select articles from your favorite subject areas. If you want new articles, just be sure to sort by newest first.
Find a research article that seems interesting
The goal is to find an article that you find interesting. First, read the abstract. The abstract gives you a brief summary of what was found in the article. You can usually skip the introduction, which just discusses past research and why the researchers thought this was an important topic. Instead, start with the results section. The first part of the results section often covers general information. For your article, focus in on any figures, tables, or key results found in the study. Pay careful attention to the wording the author uses so as not to misinterpret the results.
Get a better understanding of how the study was conducted
Interpreting the study methods section is usually the area where most people get into trouble. Why? Because how you interpret the results depends entirely on what methods were used to collect these results. You need to know who the study participants were and the procedures that were used. If the study was made up of all women or only 10 people, then what might this mean? Question how these methods might have affected the outcome. No study is perfect. Each one is just a small step towards greater understanding. This is why so many research studies are published.
Find out what the issues are
For the purposes of your article, now it’s time to read the discussion section, where the author has highlighted the main issues of this study. Reflect on the authors’ criticisms of the study as well as your own. Include in your article not only the results, but also the limitations to prevent yourself from making embarrassing reporting errors.
Writing articles based on research studies is a really great way to get new and exciting content. Beyond that, you are helping scientists disseminate their work to the general public in language that can be easily understood and used in daily life. So these types of articles have many positive benefits. Just be sure to read carefully and avoid the common pitfall of misinterpreted results and methods.
T.S. Davis, M.A., Ph.D., is founder and lead consultant at The Berkeley Well-Being Institute. Dr. Davis helps entrepreneurs build businesses that promote human thriving. Whether an entrepreneur aims to increase employee wellness, or help customers give the perfect gift, or teach companies how to reduce hiring biases, Dr. Davis’s mission is that these entrepreneurs have the support they need to make the world a better place.
