How to Read Research Papers

If you want to get good at reading and finding research papers, you need two things:

3-Pass Approach (Michael Mitzenmacher & S. Keshav's method):
- First Pass (5-10 min) – Skim the abstract, intro, section headings, and conclusion. Look at figures.
- Second Pass (1-2 hours) – Read in detail, focus on methodology and key arguments.
- Third Pass (Deep Dive, if necessary) – Read references, verify claims, and critically analyze.
SQ3R Method (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review)
- Get a general overview first.
- Formulate questions about what you're reading.
- Read while looking for answers.
- Summarize sections in your own words.
- Review to reinforce understanding.

📜 Open Access & Free Repositories:
- Google Scholar – Best place to start.
- Semantic Scholar – AI-powered academic search.
- arXiv – Open-source papers (mostly STEM).
- PubMed – Best for medical & life sciences.
- DOAJ – Directory of Open Access Journals.
- Sci-Hub – (Ethically questionable, but widely used for paywalled papers.)
📖 Preprints & Industry-Specific Sources:
- SSRN – Business, economics, law, social sciences.
- IEEE Xplore – Engineering & computer science.
- bioRxiv – Life sciences preprints.
📚 Library & Paid Resources (with free access options):
- ResearchGate – Request papers directly from authors.
- Academia.edu – Similar to ResearchGate.
- University Library Proxy – If you have access to a university, use their login for free access to major journal databases.