Some elements with which to analyze a research paper.
Clark S. Turner
CSC 508

Ask these questions, the paper should help you answer them clearly.  How useful is a research paper that does not answer these questions clearly?

1) What is the problem?
Ð evidence of the problem? (Facts)
Ð importance of the problem? (Motivation)

2) Who is the audience?
Ð adequate definition of terms?
Ð level of discussion

3) What approaches others take to solution?
Ð survey others' thinking on the issue
Ð evaluate existing solutions
Ð find "gap" for new work (author's target)

4) Author's approach to the problem
Ð an extension, synthesis or novel approach?
Ð application to a real example?
Ð analysis of strengths and weaknesses

5) Citations - adequate and useful?
Ð can I verify the work?
Ð can I find other sources of work on this problem?