When comparing papers with unfamiliar terminology, start by creating a shared vocabulary list where you define each technical term as it appears in both papers, noting any differences in how the authors use the same words.
Build Your Terminology Foundation
Begin by reading each paper's introduction and methods section to extract key terms. Create a two-column comparison table with terms from Paper A and Paper B. Many researchers find that unfamiliar terminology often describes similar concepts using different disciplinary languages—for example, "feature extraction" in computer science might parallel "variable selection" in statistics.
Use each paper's cited references to understand how terms evolved in their respective fields. If a term appears undefined, search for it in the paper's reference list or look for review articles that provide foundational definitions.
Map Conceptual Overlaps
Once you've defined the terminology, identify the core concepts both papers address. Ask yourself: What problem is each paper solving? What methods do they employ? What outcomes do they measure? Often, papers from different subfields tackle the same underlying challenge but describe it using field-specific jargon.
Create a concept map showing how each paper's terminology relates to shared research questions. This visual approach helps you see connections that aren't obvious when you're lost in unfamiliar language.
Leverage AI-Assisted Reading
Tools like WisPaper's Scholar QA can help you quickly understand technical terms by answering questions about specific passages, with every explanation traced back to the exact paragraph in the paper—eliminating the risk of AI hallucination when you're learning new terminology.
Compare Methodological Approaches
After establishing shared vocabulary, compare how each paper operationalizes its concepts. Two papers might use different terms but employ nearly identical experimental designs. Focus on the logic of their arguments rather than getting stuck on surface-level language differences.
The goal isn't to become an expert in both terminologies immediately, but to build enough understanding to evaluate which paper's approach better addresses your research question.
