Get How To Read A Journal Article

The cardinal rule is: Never start reading an article from the beginning to the end. It is better to begin by identifying the conclusions of the study by reading the title and the abstract. [12] If the article does not have an abstract, read the conclusions or the summary at the end of the article first.

Top tips Pay attention to the title. The title should tell you the main purpose of the paper. ... Read critically. When reading a research article, don't assume that the authors are correct. ... Make notes as you go. ... Read it multiple times. ... Read references. ... Discuss the paper with someone else.

Why is academic writing often hard to understand? Academics use an opaque style of writing for many reasons. Often authors are (understandably) enthusiastic about their research and can give great presentations to others about their work. Unfortunately, this enthusiasm sometimes doesn't transfer to their written words.

Do plan to spend anywhere from 3–6 hours to really digest a paper, remember they are very dense! Be ready and willing to make several passes through the paper, each time looking to extract different information and understanding. And please, do yourself a favor and do not read the paper front to end on your first pass.

How to read a scientific paper quickly & efficiently Skim the abstract. Skimming the abstract first will allow you to get somewhat familiar with the topic at hand. ... Read the conclusion. ... After the conclusion, read the results. ... Read the methods section. ... Start this process over again with a different paper.

Contents show Read the Abstract First. Stop Reading the article if it Doesn't make Sense. Scan before you Read. Always read the Literature Review. You Probably Don't want to read the Methodology. Jump to the Conclusion. If it's a Set Reading, Take Notes – Even if you Don't Understand it.

Contents show Read the Abstract First. Stop Reading the article if it Doesn't make Sense. Scan before you Read. Always read the Literature Review. You Probably Don't want to read the Methodology. Jump to the Conclusion. If it's a Set Reading, Take Notes – Even if you Don't Understand it.

A paper can also be hard to read due to the high density of information presented in one article. Unlike a sentence in your textbook, a sentence in a scientific article can have a combination of two or more complicated ideas.