Reading journal articles

To read efficiently, you should actually avoid reading the article from start to finish straight away. Even if you need to read the whole article, these steps help you get a better understanding of the progress of the article before you start reading. This will speed up your reading, as whilst the content might be new, how the argument develops is not.

Flow chart overviewing the five steps for reading an article. Step one, prepare to read, involves understanding why you are reading the article.

Step 2, reading the abstract, ensures you know what the article will cover before you start reading.

Step 3, identify the sections, gives you a sense of how the paper is organised. Use the reasons you are reading to know which sections to read.

Step 4 is to look for figures. Figures often synthesise information, helping you identify connections and data in the article.

The final step, step 5, is read strategically. Now you understand the structure and aims of the paper, you can read the sections you need to.

Next