How to Read Journal Articles
Reading journal articles can be a heavy job for both students and professionals. Whether it is research for a paper or the opportunity to find out the latest discoveries in your profession, journal articles are valuable tools for learning. To read a journal article, break it into its natural sections to help you comprehend the its purpose. A logical procession through the article is essential for proper understanding.
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Instructions
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Process
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1
Carefully read the abstract at the top of the article before proceeding onto the body of the text. The abstract presents a concise summary of the article and is the first indication of the context of the article, the background of the writer and the conclusions or findings the article may present.
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2
Move on to the literature review section, taking the time to comprehend any past studies related to the current article. This section contains a lot of citations and sources on similar articles and papers written in the past. They provide a time line that explains why the current subject was chosen and what conclusions other authors had on the subject. It is always a good idea to look up a few of those mentioned in the literature review online for further clarification.
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3
Review the methods section of the journal article to understand the parameters of the study, experiment or research related to the article and its findings. This section will explain the methods used in the author's study. This section allows you to determine whether you think the article's conclusions will be credible.
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Review the conclusion section of the article carefully, as this section provides the underlying statement of the entire piece. This section will explain what the findings of the study or research were and how they fit into the context of the larger body of work on the subject.
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Make notes throughout your reading if you are not used to reading journal articles. Highlight statements and conclusions made throughout the article to help you understand the author's thought process.
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Reread the entire article from beginning to end to make sure the important information has stuck with you and that you understand what you have read.
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Follow up your reading by reviewing other works by the author to get a better understanding of his or her viewpoint and body of work. Often, journals will list other works by the author at the end of the article. Alternatively, look up the author's name online.
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