Difference between Review and Research Articles

This blog explains the key differences between review and research articles, helping students and researchers understand their unique purposes, structures, and use cases. It provides a simple comparison table, examples, and FAQs to guide academic publishing decisions—perfect for anyone writing or reading scholarly content.

In academic publishing, two of the most commonly read and written types of articles are review articles and research articles. Although both contribute to the advancement of knowledge, they serve different purposes, follow different structures, and are used by readers in different ways. This blog will help you understand the key differences between review and research articles and when to choose each.

What is a Research Article?

Introduction to Research Articles:

These articles focus on solving a specific problem or answering a scientific question. They typically follow a structured format and are backed by real-time data and statistical analysis.

Key Features:

Reports new findings
Based on experiments, surveys, or observations
Includes methodology, results, and discussion
Follows formats like IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion)

Example Topics:

“Impact of Biofertilizers on Soil Health”
“Effect of Seaweed Extracts on Spinach Growth”

What is a Review Article?

Introduction to Review Articles:

Review articles are helpful for beginners and experts alike because they bring together data from multiple research papers, identify patterns, and suggest future areas of research.

Key Features:

Summarizes and critiques past studies
No new experiments conducted by the author
Helps identify gaps in knowledge
Often written by experts in the field

Example Topics:

“A Review on Climate-Resilient Crops”
“Advancements in Soil Carbon Sequestration Techniques”

Research Article vs Review Article:

Feature	Research Article	Review Article
Purpose	Reports new data and findings	Summarizes existing research
Source Type	Primary source	Secondary source
Data	Based on original experiments or analysis	Based on previously published work
Structure	IMRAD format	Thematic or chronological summaries
Authors' Role	Conduct experiments or gather original data	Evaluate others’ research
References	Limited to related studies	Extensive referencing from many sources
Peer Review Requirement	Usually required	Usually required

When to Choose Which?

Use a research article when:

You want to share original data.
You conducted an experiment or field study.
Your work adds new insights to the field.

Use a review article when:

You want to summarize what is already known.
You’re comparing multiple studies or trends.
You're preparing to write a thesis or proposal.

Conclusion

Both research and review articles are vital to the academic world. Research articles push knowledge forward with new discoveries, while review articles organize and clarify what we already know. Understanding the difference helps you write, read, and publish your work effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Is a review article considered original research?

No. A review article does not present new experimental data. It summarizes previously published studies.

2. Can a student write a review article?

Yes, students can write review articles, especially during literature reviews for thesis or dissertation work.

3. Which is harder to write: a review or a research article?

Both have challenges. A research article requires original data; a review article demands extensive reading and analysis of existing work.

4. Are review articles peer-reviewed?

Yes, most reputable journals peer-review review articles to ensure quality and accuracy.

5. Which is more cited: research or review articles?

Review articles often receive more citations as they summarize large amounts of information useful to many readers.

Contact Agriculture Journal IJOEAR:

For any questions regarding the Research Data Policy or data submission process, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at info.ijoear@gmail.com or info@ijoear.com . We are here to assist you.
Click here to Submit Article
Click here to Chat on Whats App