How to Read Academic Articles
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If you’re starting your college career or your research job, knowing how to read academic articles is a valuable skill. Though they can be long and jargon-heavy, having these tools in your toolbelt will help you read with ease.
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
Step 1: Find your “why”
First, you’ll want to know why you are reading the paper; what you intend to get out of it.
Do you need to comprehend the experiment, or just the results?
Is this a briefing for a meeting?
Is this a competitor’s research that you are looking to critique?
Though there are many reasons why you may need to read an academic article, going in blind sets you up for failure.
Step 2: Skim strategically
This will give you an overview of the paper’s format, preparing you for a deep read. Read the title and abstract. An abstract is like a summary and preview of the paper.
Pay attention to the headings and subheadings; they structure the main points of the paper.
Also, pay attention to figures, tables, and graphs. If you’re like me and you tend to skip past these parts of the paper, just come back to them after skimming.
Finally, read the conclusion and discussion. This should address the implications of the research and any additional questions that were not addressed in this research, but should be addressed in future studies.
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Step 3: Identify the thesis
Now you should be able to identify “This paper argues X, using method Y, and finds Z.”
Step 4: Read the whole paper
Now you can go back and read deeper. Focus on theories, methods, and results. How does each piece of evidence support the claims in the thesis?
Carefully reach through the methods. Check assumptions made, models, or equations, if relevant. Interpret the data through your own lens. How is it important for your “why” that you identified in Step 1?
Step 5: Consult any learning goals
If you’re reading for class, it is likely that you have guided questions or learning objectives for the paper. Consult these. Can you adequately answer the questions given? If not, go back and look for the answers. I like to write down these answers in my notebook. This is especially important if you’re being tested on the content of the paper.
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Helpful Tips
Annotate: It can be useful to check your understanding as you go. Annotations are great for this. Underline key ideas, highlight important sentences, and even draw arrows towards sections that you’d like to return to.
Explain it out loud: Sometimes the best way to remember what you have read is by saying it out loud. Whether you have someone else to explain it to or if you’re just doing it out loud to yourself, it may enhance your understanding.
Summarize: After reading, summarize what you have learned. This is like your version of the abstract at the beginning of the paper, but with all the information that is relevant to you.
