Reading entire articles is time-consuming! Read efficiently by following these tips:
The abstract, the references, discussion, and the conclusion sections are the most important parts to skim through to help you determine if the article will be useful for your needs.
- Read the abstract for a general summary of the journal article. Does the abstract seem relevant to your research question?
If YES, move on to step 2.
If NO, discard.
- Jump to the Reference Section: Did the author cite resources that appear credible and somewhat related to your topic, like other scholarly articles or books?
If YES, move on to step 3. (Tip! Take note of these references to look up later.)
If NO, discard.
- Read the discussion and conclusion section to gain a clearer understanding of the article's main claims. Is the content relevant?
If YES, move on to steps 4 and 5.
If NO, discard.
- Critically read the rest of the article, spending as much time as necessary to do so:
- What is the author's position? Does their argument seem valid?
- Does the author seem neutral or too biased?
- Take notes on the source, keeping your research question in mind so your notes are relevant.
Adapted from Meriam Library, California State University, Chico (2018)
