Difference between Research Paper and Review Paper

Key Difference: The primary difference between a research paper and a review paper is that a research paper is based on the author’s original research and their analysis and interpretation of their research finishing, whereas a review paper collects and collates information on a particular topic from various different written publications.

There may come a time in a student’s life that they will be asked to write a paper. Now, that paper could be a research paper or a review paper, but what exactly is the difference between the two?

A research paper involves writing about research that one has conducted themselves. It includes the parameters involved in the research as well as their analysis and interpretation of the research.

Writing a research paper involves many different steps such as selecting a topic, creating a hypothesis, doing research, testing the hypothesis, making conclusions, and writing a paper supporting or disproving the hypothesis.

A review paper, on the other hand, involves collection information from a variety of different sources. These sources can be primary or secondary. Primary sources can be people who have conducted research and have first hand information, whereas secondary sources are papers and documents that have covered the topic on hand.

A review paper collects and combines information from these various sources and presents in all in one place. The benefit of this that it makes information regarding a particular topic easier to find and reference. A student may be asked to support an argument or a hypothesis in a review paper by citing various works and sources of information.

Review papers can be categorized into three different types: -

Narrative – which collects and attempts to explain any and all existing knowledge on a particular topic. It is based on research that is already conducted and published by someone else.
Systematic – in which one searches all existing scientific literature on a topic and tries to find an answer to a particular question or problem.
Meta-analysis – which compares and combines the findings of previously published studies. It is usually done in order to assess the effectiveness of an intervention or mode of treatment.

In short, the primary difference between a research paper and a review paper is that a research paper is based on the author’s original research and their analysis and interpretation of their research finishing, whereas a review paper collects and collates information on a particular topic from various different written publications. Both are critical for a student and mistaking them might result in missed or low grade, which can affect their future.

The job of a research paper is for one to be able to present new ideas and new information which can hep move science ahead, whereas a review paper allows one to combine ideas by collecting information from various sources, which makes information easier to find and refer to.

Comparison between Research Paper and Review Paper:

	Research Paper	Review Paper
Definition (Oxford Dictionaries)	The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.	A formal assessment of something with the intention of instituting change if necessary. A critical appraisal of a book, play, film, etc. published in a newspaper or magazine.
Type	Academic Paper	Academic Paper
Used in	Schools, Colleges, Universities, Academies, certain fields of work and study, etc.	Schools, Colleges, Universities, Academies, certain fields of work and study, etc.
Based on	Original Research and Raw Data	Existing Literature and other sources of work
Purpose	To present new ideas, information, and research	To collect information about a particular topic in one place and to critically analyze that information
Type of source	Primary literature	Secondary literature

Reference: Oxford Dictionaries (Research and Review), Editage (1, 2),
University of Wisconsin-Madison, SUNY Empire State College
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