Every student will likely have several academic journals on their reading list. An academic journal is a research article written by someone who is an expert (or at least very knowledgeable about) in a particular field. Universities often recommend that students read academic journals to stay up to date with the industry and the most recent research.
The great thing is you don’t need to read the entire article word for word – as long as you get a strong understanding of the literature used and the key findings that you can get from reading a few key articles.
As you read the article, take notes on the main points, arguments, and evidence. This will help you remember the key information and make it easier to reference later.
Reading academic journal articles effectively can be a daunting task, but there are some strategies that can help you get the most out of your reading experience. Here is how to read a journal article effectively:
Skim the article first
Before diving into the details, skim through the article to get a general idea of the topic, methodology, and conclusions. This will help you focus on the most important parts of the article and avoid getting bogged down in the details. Once you’ve skimmed the article, identify the main argument or hypothesis that the author is making. This will help you understand the purpose of the article and the evidence that the author presents to support their argument.
Read the abstract
The abstract is a brief summary of the article, and it can help you quickly determine whether the article is relevant to your research. This typically includes an overview of the research aim and objectives, research methodology, key findings and areas of future research.
If the abstract doesn’t interest you or is irrelevant to your research, it may be best to move on to another article.
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Read the introduction and conclusion carefully
The introduction and conclusion are often the most important parts of an academic article. The introduction sets up the argument and provides context for the study, while the conclusion summarizes the main findings and their implications. This can help you identify the main findings and knowledge gained from the research – which is usually what you will need for your own essay.
A journal article’s conclusion usually identifies areas for future research which can be very helpful for students trying to identify a dissertation topic or justify their research aims. For example:
Smith et al (2023) identify a need for further research into..
Jones (2022) did not consider X in their research study…
Consider the implications
Finally, consider the implications of the article for your own research or the broader field. Does the article challenge or support existing theories or assumptions? Are there any limitations to the study that should be considered? How can the findings be applied in practice?
By following these strategies, you can read academic journal articles more effectively and get the most out of your research.
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