With an ever-growing list of articles now demanding your attention, learning to read research efficiently while attaining an analytical understanding of the content is an important skill.
For authoritative papers that directly inform your research agendaResearch agendaAn iterative document or statement that provides a roadmap to your short and long term topics and ideas you’d like to research., theoretical frameworkTheoretical frameworkThe theoretical lens that a researcher uses to ground their research. Examples include critical race theory, critical pedagogy, etc. , and methods, you will want to invest several hours per paper, perhaps reading each article several times. While you’re still gathering and reviewing the literature, skimming relevant sections of the paper is a useful strategy, taking notes on what you would want to return to for a deeper reading.
Whether you’re skimming or scrutinizing an article, let’s first review (or introduce) an article structure commonly used in LISLibrary and Information ScienceAn interdisciplinary field that examines how physical and digital information is organized, accessed, collected, managed, disseminated and used, particularly in library settings. research to better understand what you can expect to find in each section.
Article Section
Description
AbstractAbstractThe concise summary of a research article that provides a broad overview of the research being presented.
An overview of the paper, typically includes 1-2 sentences summarizing each of the below sections
IntroductionIntroductionThe start of a research article providing background information and an overview of the research presented in the article.
An outline contextualizing what the paper is about with a precise problem/research question/hypothesis, what is previously known about the topic, and, if applicable, definitions of key phrases or concepts
Method/methodologyMethodologyThe theoretical framework that informs how a researcher approaches their work and what methods are used to collect data.
A description of how data were collected and analyzed and a review of the study sample, equipment, and employed techniques
ResultsResultsThe section of a research article where researchers share the results from the research. This section takes the results and directly connects them to the research questions or hypotheses posed at the start of the article. Also can be called “Findings.”
A report of the raw data found as a result of the study
DiscussionDiscussionThe section of a research article where the researchers analyze and interpret the findings. This section provides the “so what” for the research conducted.
An interpretation of the results, typically aligning the results to the research questions to discuss the significance and implications of the findingsResultsThe section of a research article where researchers share the results from the research. This section takes the results and directly connects them to the research questions or hypotheses posed at the start of the article. Also can be called “Findings.”
ConclusionConclusionThe end of a research article that wraps up the work presented. A conclusion can also be a spot to discuss limitations of the research or future avenues for this line of research.
A summary of the key findings, tying the study to previous research while identifying limitations and future directions for the field
Table 2. Created by Kirsten Hostetler for LibParlor Online Learning, 2023.
Once you recognize this standard structure, you’re better able to jump to a section based on your needs to determine if the article is relevant enough to dedicate more attention for a deeper read.
However, it is important to note that while academic articles typically use this framework, the headings may have different labels or the article could be organized in a completely different manner. The more you read, the more comfortable you’ll feel with the various approaches authors and journals use.
Regardless of whether you’re at your first or third pass of the article, make sure you’re approaching your review perceptively and productively. Both involve asking questions. Perceptive questions can reveal flaws: Are the research questions appropriate? Are the authors’ assumptions reasonable? Is the data pertinent to substantiate the study’s claims or would other data be more applicable? Productive questions, on the other hand, focus on the positives: What stands out in the article? Can the questions/methods/results be pushed further? If you were the author, where would you take the research next?
Be sure to take notes! Summarizing what you learned and how you might use this paper in your research in 3-4 sentences can be helpful for future use. As you gather more articles, start making comparisons between works, noticing how they influence each other, remarking on any similarities and/or differences, and writing down names of articles and authors that are frequently cited. Use the support ecosystem you identified in Course 1 as a discussion group for your readings to help you process, make connections, and brainstorm next steps.
Activity
Complete the following activity in your LPOL Workbook. This activity will help you work toward a final curriculum deliverable, and it will help you develop your overall research plan.
To practice applying these skills in your own reading practice, use the 2.1.3: Reading Research worksheet in your LPOL Workbook to build on what you found in the Foundational Literature Exercise.
Reading the Literature
With an ever-growing list of articles now demanding your attention, learning to read research efficiently while attaining an analytical understanding of the content is an important skill.
For authoritative papers that directly inform your research agendaResearch agenda An iterative document or statement that provides a roadmap to your short and long term topics and ideas you’d like to research., theoretical frameworkTheoretical framework The theoretical lens that a researcher uses to ground their research. Examples include critical race theory, critical pedagogy, etc. , and methods, you will want to invest several hours per paper, perhaps reading each article several times. While you’re still gathering and reviewing the literature, skimming relevant sections of the paper is a useful strategy, taking notes on what you would want to return to for a deeper reading.
Whether you’re skimming or scrutinizing an article, let’s first review (or introduce) an article structure commonly used in LISLibrary and Information Science An interdisciplinary field that examines how physical and digital information is organized, accessed, collected, managed, disseminated and used, particularly in library settings. research to better understand what you can expect to find in each section.
Once you recognize this standard structure, you’re better able to jump to a section based on your needs to determine if the article is relevant enough to dedicate more attention for a deeper read.
However, it is important to note that while academic articles typically use this framework, the headings may have different labels or the article could be organized in a completely different manner. The more you read, the more comfortable you’ll feel with the various approaches authors and journals use.
Regardless of whether you’re at your first or third pass of the article, make sure you’re approaching your review perceptively and productively. Both involve asking questions. Perceptive questions can reveal flaws: Are the research questions appropriate? Are the authors’ assumptions reasonable? Is the data pertinent to substantiate the study’s claims or would other data be more applicable? Productive questions, on the other hand, focus on the positives: What stands out in the article? Can the questions/methods/results be pushed further? If you were the author, where would you take the research next?
Be sure to take notes! Summarizing what you learned and how you might use this paper in your research in 3-4 sentences can be helpful for future use. As you gather more articles, start making comparisons between works, noticing how they influence each other, remarking on any similarities and/or differences, and writing down names of articles and authors that are frequently cited. Use the support ecosystem you identified in Course 1 as a discussion group for your readings to help you process, make connections, and brainstorm next steps.
Activity
Complete the following activity in your LPOL Workbook. This activity will help you work toward a final curriculum deliverable, and it will help you develop your overall research plan.
To practice applying these skills in your own reading practice, use the 2.1.3: Reading Research worksheet in your LPOL Workbook to build on what you found in the Foundational Literature Exercise.
Topic 3 References
Pain, Elisabeth. “How to (Seriously) Read a Scientific Paper.” Science online. March 21, 2016. https://www.science.org/content/article/how-seriously-read-scientific-paper.
Shannon, Kyle M. “Guide to Reading Academic Research Papers.” Towards Data Science online. July 21, 2018. https://towardsdatascience.com/guide-to-reading-academic-research-papers-c69c21619de6.