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A College Student’s Recipe For Reading Research Articles

by Barbara Nixon on Aug 24, 2009

3,464 views

Slides to accompany a discussion on how to read research articles. Based on a blog post by Mihaela Vorvoreanu

Slides to accompany a discussion on how to read research articles. Based on a blog post by Mihaela Vorvoreanu

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Vorvoreanu, M. (2009, August 12). How to read a research article. Retrieved August 21, 2009, from PR Connections: http://prconnections.net/how-to-read-a-research-article/Most research articles you find in academic journal follow a similar recipe. If you understand how the article is structured and what to look for in each section, you can read articles much faster. I can get what I want from a research article in 5 minutes or less. When I started grad. school it took me 45-60 minutes to get through a research article and I still didn’t get much out of it. I wish someone had taught me how to read them.Here are my lessons, based on my experiences. They work for me. I hope they work for you, too. If they don’t, use this as a starting point to figure out your own reading process.Understanding the anatomy of a research article will also help you write easier.Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/99734370@N00/222385914/
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7884518@N04/2107694154
TitleUsually long and cryptic. Most titles are poorly written. I don’t pay much attention to the title.Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/99047728@N00/422393021/
AbstractI read it carefully and look for:purpose of study/research questiona hint as to research methodskey resultsPhoto Credit: http://paintings.name/images/art/388/abstract-art-portrait-7.jpg
IntroductionI read the introduction looking for the following information:explanation of the problem the study addressesexplanation of the larger context of the problemargument about the importance/need/relevance of studying the problempurpose of the studyan overview of how the article is structured, and how the next section is organizedPhoto Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/red5standingby/235794106/sizes/m/
Literature reviewIt may be called something else, or the article may not even have headings – but it should be there somewhere. The literature review should accomplish 2 purposes:make an argument for the need to conduct this specific study (identify a gap, or a need in previous literature)present the previous theories, concepts, etc. that this study uses and builds uponUsually, each paragraph or small section of the literature review covers a body of literature (the best lit. reviews are organized thematically, IMO). When reading the literature review it is important to identify these major themes. They give you a lay of the land.Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/margolove/1252522330/
Imagine the body of literature is a garden. The article you’re reading attempts to plant a new seed in this garden. Before doing so, the authors explain the layout of the garden (vegetables here, flowers there, weeds over there) and they explain why their plant is needed and where it fits in.When reading the lit. review, you get a feel for this garden. If you are:very familiar with the literature, the lit. review confirms that the authors looked in all the right places and didn’t reinvent the wheel. OK to skim.completely unfamiliar with the literature, this section will be terribly confusing. Don’t worry. All you have to get out of it are the major themes (sections of the garden). You can come back later and examine each individual plant. OK to skim.are trying to learn the literature – read carefully, and mark on the list of references the sources you want to read.The literature review ends with the research question(s). Find them and highlight them. They are promises that the article should deliver on.Photo Credit:http://www.squidoo.com/VegetableGardenLayout
MethodsThis section explains the research methods and procedures used for the research study. Read them carefully, make sure they are valid. If the research methods are faulty, the data are not to be trusted. If the research methods are absurdly faulty, stop reading here. Go back to the literature review and the list of references and see if they can help you find better articles on the topic.
ResultsIn this section, the authors present their data, along with their (statistical or interpretive, etc.) analysis. This is as close as you can get to the raw data. This section, in a quantitative article, should be as free as possible of interpretation. Try your best to understand the results for yourself, so you can create your own interpretation of what they mean. But, if the statistics baffle you AND if you trust the authors, skim this section and move on to:Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25678284@N03/3374348802/
DiscussionThis section explains what the results mean, in the context of the garden (literature review). You should see how the problem from the introduction is solved, how the research questions are answered, and whether the purpose of the study was accomplished. I usually read this section very carefully, because it tells me what the authors think they have accomplished.Either here or at the end of the conclusion, you will find suggestions for future research. These can be very useful for your own literature review – you can cite the article, if it calls for exactly the research you’re doing. You can use this to support your own argument about the need for your research.Photo Credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/28859335@N00/120018144/
ConclusionThe first part of the conclusion should be a summary of the entire paper. I read it carefully, because the repetition helps me remember what I read. The last part of the conclusion is usually the most difficult part to write, very often fluff, and I don’t feel guilty about skimming or skipping it.Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11667367@N00/425099288/

A College Student’s Recipe For Reading Research Articles — Presentation Transcript

A College Student’s RecipeforReading Research Articles
by MihaelaVorvoreanu, Ph.D.
adapted to PPT by Barbara Nixon, Ph.D. (ABD)
Ingredients
¼ cup Title
1 cup Abstract
1 cup Introduction
2 cups Literature Review
1 cup Methods
1 cup Results
4 cups Discussion
½ cup Conclusion
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
a garden of literature
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Many thanks to Dr. V. . . .