Survey article
Encyclopedia
In academia
, a survey article is a paper that is a work of synthesis, published through the usual channels (a learned journal or collective volume, such as conference proceedings or collection of essays). It stands outside the usual run of research paper
s, for two reasons: it is not presented as the author's original research, but as a survey or summary of a field; and it is not necessarily subject to the same degree of peer review
. Sometimes short survey articles appear in the guise of book reviews, where the context of the book is summarised first, often at greater length than is devoted to the book.
In a survey article, the treatment of the subject is often less detailed or in-depth than would be acceptable in a textbook, and the topic may be one in which recent work requires summary. In its objectivity, a survey article may lie somewhere between a personal essay, and an encyclopedia article. The intention is to give rapid access to material scattered over many papers. Some fields, such as theoretical physics
, depend very much on such surveys to bring recent progress into focus, on a time scale of around 18 months to two years.
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, a survey article is a paper that is a work of synthesis, published through the usual channels (a learned journal or collective volume, such as conference proceedings or collection of essays). It stands outside the usual run of research paper
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
s, for two reasons: it is not presented as the author's original research, but as a survey or summary of a field; and it is not necessarily subject to the same degree of peer review
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
. Sometimes short survey articles appear in the guise of book reviews, where the context of the book is summarised first, often at greater length than is devoted to the book.
In a survey article, the treatment of the subject is often less detailed or in-depth than would be acceptable in a textbook, and the topic may be one in which recent work requires summary. In its objectivity, a survey article may lie somewhere between a personal essay, and an encyclopedia article. The intention is to give rapid access to material scattered over many papers. Some fields, such as theoretical physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
, depend very much on such surveys to bring recent progress into focus, on a time scale of around 18 months to two years.