How to Read Academic Articles (PSY-2020_Kris Oldroyd) | Julie Swindler

Why we are including this example

Reading academic articles is a skill many students do not yet have. This page explains how to read an academic article and includes a helpful infographic.

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Introduction

Most students assume research articles should be read from top to bottom, just like any other reading material. This leaves some of them feeling overwhelmed and insecure. They need to understand that reading an empirical article requires a different strategy. It helps to explain the strategy by comparing it to a dinner invitation:

  • The front door of a home typically has a house number or some sort of identifier so you know which house you've come to.

    • The Title and Publication info of an article act as the front door.

  • In the foyer of the home, your host will welcome you to the house. You might be able to smell the meal being prepared. If it smells terrible, maybe you leave early or claim illness.

    • The Abstract of an article is like the foyer of a home: it gives you a taste of what's to come. You can decide at that point whether you want to continue with the article or move on to something else. 

  • A formal living room is a showier part of the house. You might find pictures of the family, works of art, or other items that help you know what to expect from your host and perhaps how to navigate the social interactions.

    • The Introduction of an article is similar to the formal living room: it helps you understand what you are navigating and what to expect. And you can skip it, if you want. It's not required for you to be able to "enjoy the meal."

  • The kitchen is where the food is prepared. As a guest, you likely don't care how the food is made—you don't need to read the recipes or know what temperature the oven had to be set to in order to enjoy your meal.

    • The Methods section of an article is like the kitchen: it tells you how the researchers did the research. Unless you really want to know, you can skip it.

  • The dining room is the reason you came over: dinner!

    • The Results section is like dinner.

  • Once you finish dinner, you will likely move to the family room to talk. Perhaps you ask the host more about the food they served, or you might continue a dinner conversation topic in more depth.

    • The Discussion section is like the family room. Researchers get to talk about the results and why they matter. 

  • The last part of the house, the garage, is not one you likely care much about, unless you want to recreate the entire house. Most dinner guests could not care less what color the paint is or which fertilizer their host uses on the lawn.

    • The References section is like the garage. If you really must know about the nuts and bolts, you can read it, but it's not necessary for you to enjoy the meal.

Structure of Empirical Articles Download Structure of Empirical Articles