{"id":198,"date":"2025-08-18T03:28:50","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T07:28:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/chapter\/how-to-read-a-scholarly-article-evaluating-information-libguides-at-brown-university\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T13:52:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T17:52:56","slug":"how-to-read-a-scholarly-article-evaluating-information-libguides-at-brown-university","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/chapter\/how-to-read-a-scholarly-article-evaluating-information-libguides-at-brown-university\/","title":{"raw":"How to Read a Scholarly Article - Evaluating Information - LibGuides at Brown University","rendered":"How to Read a Scholarly Article &#8211; Evaluating Information &#8211; LibGuides at Brown University"},"content":{"raw":"<div id=\"header\">\r\n<div id=\"libnav\"><a style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\" href=\"http:\/\/www.brown.edu\"><img title=\"Brown University Homepage\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/header_shield.png\" alt=\"Brown University Homepage\" \/><\/a><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\"> \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\" href=\"http:\/\/library.brown.edu\/\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Brown_University_Library_header_text.png\" alt=\"Brown University Library\" \/><\/a><\/div>\r\n<div id=\"title_bar\">\r\n<div id=\"ccinfo\">\r\n<div class=\"searchform\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-header\" class=\"container s-lib-header s-lib-side-borders\">\r\n<div id=\"breadcrumb_container\"><span style=\"font-size: 1.602em;font-weight: bold\">Evaluating Information<\/span><\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-header-info\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-desc-container\"><span id=\"s-lg-guide-description\">Introduction to the types of resources available for research, their purposes, and the value of those resources in research.<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-side-nav-content\" class=\"container s-lib-side-borders pad-top-med\">\r\n<div class=\"row\">\r\n<div class=\"col-md-9\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lg-tab-content\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-main\" class=\"tab-pane active\">\r\n<div class=\"row s-lg-row\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-col-1\" class=\"col-md-12\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lg-col-boxes\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246860\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246860\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072736-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072736\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\r\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Reading a Scholarly Article<\/h2>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24072736\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-54934428\" class=\"clearfix\">\r\n\r\nThis page was created to help you:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify the different parts of a scholarly article<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Efficiently analyze and evaluate scholarly articles for usefulness<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThis page will focus on reading scholarly articles \u2014\u00a0published reports on original research in the social sciences, humanities, and STEM fields. Reading and understanding this type of article can be challenging. This guide will help you develop these skills, which can be learned and improved upon with practice.\r\n\r\nWe will go over:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate\/Read#s-lg-box-wrapper-28388411\">Common Components of Original Research Articles<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate\/Read#s-lg-box-wrapper-28388733\">While You Read<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate\/Read#s-lg-box-wrapper-28388879\">Reading Strategies<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate\/Read#s-lg-box-wrapper-28389111\">Reading for Citations<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThere are many different types of articles that may be found in scholarly journals and other academic publications. For more, see:\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<ul id=\"s-lg-link-list-57849028\" class=\"s-lg-link-list s-lg-link-list-2\">\r\n \t<li class=\"\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55263029\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/findinginformation\/types\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Types of Information Sources<\/a><\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388411\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388411\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193665-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193665\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\r\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Common Components of Original Research Articles<\/h2>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24193665\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55263098\" class=\"clearfix\">\r\n<table class=\"table table-striped\"><caption>Note: Not all articles contain all components.<\/caption>\r\n<thead><\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Title<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Offers clues to article\u2019s main topic.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Author(s)<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Describes who is responsible for this work.\u00a0May be one person, a group, or an institution. Make note of authors and institutions you see repeatedly during your search process.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Abstract<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Summarizes article contents and findings; may include methodology.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Keywords<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Describe the content in quick words or phrases.\u00a0Help\u00a0you place the work in context with other literature. Good for quick reference!<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Introduction<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Summarizes\u00a0the article\u2019s main idea, thesis, or research question.\u00a0Should answer the question, \"Why this?\"\u00a0Includes background knowledge on the topic and provides information about research motivations, impact, or purpose.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Literature Review<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">P<span id=\"selectionBoundary_1591903293277_6648509747884342\" class=\"rangySelectionBoundary\"><\/span>laces the research in context with prior work. Analyzes important contributions that the author(s) believe are relevant and that the article builds upon to create new knowledge. Sometimes includes a theoretical framework. A good place to look to find additional sources for your research!<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Methods (or Methodology)<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">An explanation of how and why the authors approached the examination of their question and the collection of data.\u00a0May include information about the limitations of their chosen methodology.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Discussion<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">An examination of meaning and implications of the research for existing and future exploration.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Figures<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Graphical representation of findings and other relevant information. Includes charts, graphs, maps, images, tables, etc. Look at figures during your initial scan to determine relevancy and quality.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Conclusion<\/th>\r\n<td class=\"ck_border\">A synthesis of the findings and importance of the research.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388733\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388733\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193870-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193870\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\r\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">While You Read<\/h2>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24193870\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55263858\" class=\"clearfix\">\r\n\r\nReading a scholarly article isn\u2019t like reading a novel, website, or newspaper article.\u00a0It\u2019s likely you won\u2019t read and absorb it from beginning to end, all at once.\r\n\r\nInstead, think of scholarly reading as inquiry, i.e.,\u00a0asking a series of questions as you do your research or read for class. Your reading should be guided by your class topic\u00a0or your own research question or thesis.\r\n\r\nFor example, as you read, you might ask yourself:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Is the article relevant to a class theme\u00a0or to my own work?\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>What questions does it help to answer, or what topics does it address?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Does the article offer any unique perspectives or new information?\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Are these relevant or useful to me?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Can I use the contents of the article in any other ways?\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Does the article offer a helpful framework for understanding my topic or question (theoretical framework)?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Do the authors use interesting or innovative methods to conduct their research that might be relevant to me?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Does the article contain references I might consult for further information?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div>\r\n<h3>In Practice<\/h3>\r\nScanning and skimming are essential when reading scholarly articles, especially at the beginning stages of your research\u00a0or when you have a lot of material in front of you.\r\n\r\nMany scholarly articles are organized to help you scan and skim efficiently. The next time you need to read an article, practice scanning the following sections (where available) and skim their contents:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>The abstract: <\/strong>This summary provides a birds\u2019 eye view of the article contents.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>The introduction:<\/strong>\u00a0What is the topic(s) of the research article? What is its main idea or question?<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>The list of keywords or descriptors<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Methods: <\/strong>How did the author(s) go about answering their question\/collecting their data?<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Section headings:<\/strong>\u00a0Stop and skim those sections you may find relevant.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Figures:<\/strong>\u00a0Offer lots of information in quick visual format.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>The conclusion:<\/strong>\u00a0What are the findings and\/or conclusions of this article?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388879\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388879\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193986-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193986\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\r\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Reading Strategies<\/h2>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24193986\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55263919\" class=\"clearfix\">\r\n<h3>Mark Up Your Text<\/h3>\r\nRead with purpose.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Scanning and skimming with a pen in hand can help to focus your reading.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Use color for quick reference. Try highlighters or some sticky notes. Use different colors to represent different topics.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Write in the margins, putting down thoughts and\u00a0questions about the content as you read.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Use digital markup features available in eBook platforms or third-party solutions, like Adobe Reader or Hypothes.is.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Categorize Information<\/h3>\r\nCreate your own informal system of organization. It doesn\u2019t have to be complicated \u2014\u00a0start basic, and be sure it works for you.\r\n<h4>Keywords<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Jot down a few of your own keywords for each article. These keywords may correspond with important topics being addressed in class or in your research paper.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Write keywords on print copies\u00a0or use the built-in note taking features in reference management tools like Zotero and EndNote.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Your keywords and system of organization may grow more complex the deeper you get into your reading.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4>New Words<\/h4>\r\nHighlight words, terms, phrases, acronyms, etc. that are unfamiliar to you. You can highlight\u00a0on the text\u00a0or make a list in a notetaking program.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Decide if the term is essential to your understanding of the article\u00a0or if you can look it up later and keep scanning.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28389111\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28389111\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24194193-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24194193\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\r\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Reading for Citations<\/h2>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24194193\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55264456\" class=\"clearfix\">\r\n\r\nYou may scan an article and discover that it isn\u2019t what you thought it was about. Before you close the tab or delete that PDF, consider scanning the article one more time, specifically to look for citations that might be more on-target for your topic.\r\n\r\nYou don\u2019t need to look at every citation in the bibliography \u2014\u00a0you can look to the literature review to identify the core references that relate to your topic. Literature reviews are typically organized by subtopic within a research question or thesis. Find the paragraph or two that are closely aligned with your topic, make note of the author names, then locate those citations in the bibliography or footnote.\r\n\r\nSee the Find Articles page for what to do next:\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<ul id=\"s-lg-link-list-57850483\" class=\"s-lg-link-list s-lg-link-list-2\">\r\n \t<li class=\"\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55264466\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/findinginformation\/articles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find Articles<\/a><\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55264474\" class=\"clearfix\">\r\n\r\nSee the Citation Searching page for more on following a citation trail:\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<ul id=\"s-lg-link-list-57850499\" class=\"s-lg-link-list s-lg-link-list-2\">\r\n \t<li class=\"\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55264484\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/searching\/citation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Citation Searching<\/a><\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246869\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246869\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072744-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072744\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\r\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Further Reading<\/h2>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24072744\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\r\n<div class=\"\">\r\n<ul id=\"s-lg-link-list-57863885\" class=\"s-lg-link-list s-lg-link-list-2\">\r\n \t<li class=\"\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55279167\" class=\"\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.raulpacheco.org\/2016\/09\/taking-notes-effectively\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taking notes effectively. [blog post] Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD<\/a><\/div><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55279141\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SKxm2HF_-k0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to read an academic paper.<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SKxm2HF_-k0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UBCiSchool. 2013<\/a><\/div><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55279127\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/careers\/2016\/03\/how-seriously-read-scientific-paper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to (seriously) read a scientific paper. (2016, March 21). Science | AAAS.<\/a><\/div><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55279044\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/1273445.1273458\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to read a paper. S. Keshav. 2007. SIGCOMM Comput. Commun. Rev. 37, 3 (July 2007), 83\u201384.<\/a><\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246878\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246878\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072752-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072752\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\r\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Learning Objectives<\/h2>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24072752\">\r\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-54934520\" class=\"clearfix\">\r\n\r\nThis guide was designed to help you:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify the different parts of a scholarly article<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Efficiently analyze and evaluate scholarly articles for usefulness<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-poll-outer-55279203\" class=\"s-lg-poll-outer\">\r\n<fieldset><legend>Did this page help you meet this objective?<span class=\"s-lg-guide-label\" style=\"font-size: 1em\">Last Updated:<\/span> <span class=\"s-lg-text-greyout\" style=\"font-size: 1em\">Feb 16, 2024 3:55 PM<\/span><\/legend><\/fieldset>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"s-lib-footer-public\" class=\"s-lib-footer footer container s-lib-side-borders\">\r\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-header-meta\" class=\"pad-top-sm pad-left-med clearfix\">\r\n<ul id=\"s-lg-guide-header-attributes\" class=\"\">\r\n \t<li id=\"s-lg-guide-header-url\" class=\"s-lg-h-separator\"><span class=\"s-lg-guide-label\">URL:<\/span> <span class=\"s-lg-text-greyout\">https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"footer\">\r\n<div id=\"footer_contents\">\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/library.brown.edu\/\">Brown University Library<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 Providence,\u00a0RI\u00a002912 \u00a0|\u00a0 (401)\u00a0863-2165 \u00a0|\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/library.brown.edu\/about\/stafflist.php\">Contact<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/library.brown.edu\/forms\/comments.php\">Comments<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSfBEa-sleeaVAs1G1Rsrk_vKKyTYIIZrfc9zRZ1CeDrLVq8lA\/viewform\">Library\u00a0Feedback<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/libweb\/atoz.php\">Site\u00a0Map<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n[video]","rendered":"<div id=\"header\">\n<div id=\"libnav\"><a style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\" href=\"http:\/\/www.brown.edu\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Brown University Homepage\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/header_shield.png\" alt=\"Brown University Homepage\" \/><\/a><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\"> \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\" href=\"http:\/\/library.brown.edu\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2495\/2025\/08\/Brown_University_Library_header_text.png\" alt=\"Brown University Library\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"title_bar\">\n<div id=\"ccinfo\">\n<div class=\"searchform\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-header\" class=\"container s-lib-header s-lib-side-borders\">\n<div id=\"breadcrumb_container\"><span style=\"font-size: 1.602em;font-weight: bold\">Evaluating Information<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-header-info\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-desc-container\"><span id=\"s-lg-guide-description\">Introduction to the types of resources available for research, their purposes, and the value of those resources in research.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-side-nav-content\" class=\"container s-lib-side-borders pad-top-med\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-9\">\n<div class=\"s-lg-tab-content\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-main\" class=\"tab-pane active\">\n<div class=\"row s-lg-row\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-col-1\" class=\"col-md-12\">\n<div class=\"s-lg-col-boxes\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246860\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246860\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072736-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072736\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Reading a Scholarly Article<\/h2>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24072736\">\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-54934428\" class=\"clearfix\">\n<p>This page was created to help you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify the different parts of a scholarly article<\/li>\n<li>Efficiently analyze and evaluate scholarly articles for usefulness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This page will focus on reading scholarly articles \u2014\u00a0published reports on original research in the social sciences, humanities, and STEM fields. Reading and understanding this type of article can be challenging. This guide will help you develop these skills, which can be learned and improved upon with practice.<\/p>\n<p>We will go over:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate\/Read#s-lg-box-wrapper-28388411\">Common Components of Original Research Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate\/Read#s-lg-box-wrapper-28388733\">While You Read<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate\/Read#s-lg-box-wrapper-28388879\">Reading Strategies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate\/Read#s-lg-box-wrapper-28389111\">Reading for Citations<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are many different types of articles that may be found in scholarly journals and other academic publications. For more, see:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">\n<ul id=\"s-lg-link-list-57849028\" class=\"s-lg-link-list s-lg-link-list-2\">\n<li class=\"\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55263029\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/findinginformation\/types\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Types of Information Sources<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388411\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388411\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193665-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193665\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Common Components of Original Research Articles<\/h2>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24193665\">\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55263098\" class=\"clearfix\">\n<table class=\"table table-striped\">\n<caption>Note: Not all articles contain all components.<\/caption>\n<thead><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Title<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Offers clues to article\u2019s main topic.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Author(s)<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Describes who is responsible for this work.\u00a0May be one person, a group, or an institution. Make note of authors and institutions you see repeatedly during your search process.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Abstract<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Summarizes article contents and findings; may include methodology.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Keywords<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Describe the content in quick words or phrases.\u00a0Help\u00a0you place the work in context with other literature. Good for quick reference!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Introduction<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Summarizes\u00a0the article\u2019s main idea, thesis, or research question.\u00a0Should answer the question, &#8220;Why this?&#8221;\u00a0Includes background knowledge on the topic and provides information about research motivations, impact, or purpose.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Literature Review<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">P<span id=\"selectionBoundary_1591903293277_6648509747884342\" class=\"rangySelectionBoundary\"><\/span>laces the research in context with prior work. Analyzes important contributions that the author(s) believe are relevant and that the article builds upon to create new knowledge. Sometimes includes a theoretical framework. A good place to look to find additional sources for your research!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Methods (or Methodology)<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">An explanation of how and why the authors approached the examination of their question and the collection of data.\u00a0May include information about the limitations of their chosen methodology.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Discussion<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">An examination of meaning and implications of the research for existing and future exploration.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Figures<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">Graphical representation of findings and other relevant information. Includes charts, graphs, maps, images, tables, etc. Look at figures during your initial scan to determine relevancy and quality.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"ck_border\" scope=\"row\">Conclusion<\/th>\n<td class=\"ck_border\">A synthesis of the findings and importance of the research.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388733\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388733\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193870-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193870\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">While You Read<\/h2>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24193870\">\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55263858\" class=\"clearfix\">\n<p>Reading a scholarly article isn\u2019t like reading a novel, website, or newspaper article.\u00a0It\u2019s likely you won\u2019t read and absorb it from beginning to end, all at once.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, think of scholarly reading as inquiry, i.e.,\u00a0asking a series of questions as you do your research or read for class. Your reading should be guided by your class topic\u00a0or your own research question or thesis.<\/p>\n<p>For example, as you read, you might ask yourself:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Is the article relevant to a class theme\u00a0or to my own work?\n<ul>\n<li>What questions does it help to answer, or what topics does it address?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Does the article offer any unique perspectives or new information?\n<ul>\n<li>Are these relevant or useful to me?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Can I use the contents of the article in any other ways?\n<ul>\n<li>Does the article offer a helpful framework for understanding my topic or question (theoretical framework)?<\/li>\n<li>Do the authors use interesting or innovative methods to conduct their research that might be relevant to me?<\/li>\n<li>Does the article contain references I might consult for further information?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<h3>In Practice<\/h3>\n<p>Scanning and skimming are essential when reading scholarly articles, especially at the beginning stages of your research\u00a0or when you have a lot of material in front of you.<\/p>\n<p>Many scholarly articles are organized to help you scan and skim efficiently. The next time you need to read an article, practice scanning the following sections (where available) and skim their contents:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The abstract: <\/strong>This summary provides a birds\u2019 eye view of the article contents.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The introduction:<\/strong>\u00a0What is the topic(s) of the research article? What is its main idea or question?<\/li>\n<li><strong>The list of keywords or descriptors<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Methods: <\/strong>How did the author(s) go about answering their question\/collecting their data?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Section headings:<\/strong>\u00a0Stop and skim those sections you may find relevant.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Figures:<\/strong>\u00a0Offer lots of information in quick visual format.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The conclusion:<\/strong>\u00a0What are the findings and\/or conclusions of this article?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388879\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28388879\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193986-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24193986\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Reading Strategies<\/h2>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24193986\">\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55263919\" class=\"clearfix\">\n<h3>Mark Up Your Text<\/h3>\n<p>Read with purpose.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Scanning and skimming with a pen in hand can help to focus your reading.<\/li>\n<li>Use color for quick reference. Try highlighters or some sticky notes. Use different colors to represent different topics.<\/li>\n<li>Write in the margins, putting down thoughts and\u00a0questions about the content as you read.<\/li>\n<li>Use digital markup features available in eBook platforms or third-party solutions, like Adobe Reader or Hypothes.is.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Categorize Information<\/h3>\n<p>Create your own informal system of organization. It doesn\u2019t have to be complicated \u2014\u00a0start basic, and be sure it works for you.<\/p>\n<h4>Keywords<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Jot down a few of your own keywords for each article. These keywords may correspond with important topics being addressed in class or in your research paper.<\/li>\n<li>Write keywords on print copies\u00a0or use the built-in note taking features in reference management tools like Zotero and EndNote.<\/li>\n<li>Your keywords and system of organization may grow more complex the deeper you get into your reading.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>New Words<\/h4>\n<p>Highlight words, terms, phrases, acronyms, etc. that are unfamiliar to you. You can highlight\u00a0on the text\u00a0or make a list in a notetaking program.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Decide if the term is essential to your understanding of the article\u00a0or if you can look it up later and keep scanning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28389111\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28389111\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24194193-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24194193\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Reading for Citations<\/h2>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24194193\">\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55264456\" class=\"clearfix\">\n<p>You may scan an article and discover that it isn\u2019t what you thought it was about. Before you close the tab or delete that PDF, consider scanning the article one more time, specifically to look for citations that might be more on-target for your topic.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t need to look at every citation in the bibliography \u2014\u00a0you can look to the literature review to identify the core references that relate to your topic. Literature reviews are typically organized by subtopic within a research question or thesis. Find the paragraph or two that are closely aligned with your topic, make note of the author names, then locate those citations in the bibliography or footnote.<\/p>\n<p>See the Find Articles page for what to do next:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">\n<ul id=\"s-lg-link-list-57850483\" class=\"s-lg-link-list s-lg-link-list-2\">\n<li class=\"\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55264466\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/findinginformation\/articles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find Articles<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55264474\" class=\"clearfix\">\n<p>See the Citation Searching page for more on following a citation trail:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">\n<ul id=\"s-lg-link-list-57850499\" class=\"s-lg-link-list s-lg-link-list-2\">\n<li class=\"\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55264484\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/searching\/citation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Citation Searching<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246869\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246869\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072744-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072744\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Further Reading<\/h2>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24072744\">\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<ul id=\"s-lg-link-list-57863885\" class=\"s-lg-link-list s-lg-link-list-2\">\n<li class=\"\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55279167\" class=\"\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.raulpacheco.org\/2016\/09\/taking-notes-effectively\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taking notes effectively. [blog post] Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55279141\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SKxm2HF_-k0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to read an academic paper.<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SKxm2HF_-k0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UBCiSchool. 2013<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55279127\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/careers\/2016\/03\/how-seriously-read-scientific-paper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to (seriously) read a scientific paper. (2016, March 21). Science | AAAS.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-55279044\" class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/10.1145\/1273445.1273458\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to read a paper. S. Keshav. 2007. SIGCOMM Comput. Commun. Rev. 37, 3 (July 2007), 83\u201384.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246878\" class=\"s-lg-box-wrapper-28246878\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072752-container\" class=\"s-lib-box-container\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-24072752\" class=\"s-lib-box s-lib-box-std\">\n<h2 class=\"s-lib-box-title\">Learning Objectives<\/h2>\n<div id=\"s-lg-box-collapse-24072752\">\n<div class=\"s-lib-box-content\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-54934520\" class=\"clearfix\">\n<p>This guide was designed to help you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify the different parts of a scholarly article<\/li>\n<li>Efficiently analyze and evaluate scholarly articles for usefulness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lg-content-poll-outer-55279203\" class=\"s-lg-poll-outer\">\n<fieldset>\n<legend>Did this page help you meet this objective?<span class=\"s-lg-guide-label\" style=\"font-size: 1em\">Last Updated:<\/span> <span class=\"s-lg-text-greyout\" style=\"font-size: 1em\">Feb 16, 2024 3:55 PM<\/span><\/legend>\n<\/fieldset>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"s-lib-footer-public\" class=\"s-lib-footer footer container s-lib-side-borders\">\n<div id=\"s-lg-guide-header-meta\" class=\"pad-top-sm pad-left-med clearfix\">\n<ul id=\"s-lg-guide-header-attributes\" class=\"\">\n<li id=\"s-lg-guide-header-url\" class=\"s-lg-h-separator\"><span class=\"s-lg-guide-label\">URL:<\/span> <span class=\"s-lg-text-greyout\">https:\/\/libguides.brown.edu\/evaluate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"footer\">\n<div id=\"footer_contents\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/library.brown.edu\/\">Brown University Library<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 Providence,\u00a0RI\u00a002912 \u00a0|\u00a0 (401)\u00a0863-2165 \u00a0|\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/library.brown.edu\/about\/stafflist.php\">Contact<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/library.brown.edu\/forms\/comments.php\">Comments<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSfBEa-sleeaVAs1G1Rsrk_vKKyTYIIZrfc9zRZ1CeDrLVq8lA\/viewform\">Library\u00a0Feedback<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/libweb\/atoz.php\">Site\u00a0Map<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2509,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-198","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":133,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2509"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1019,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/198\/revisions\/1019"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/133"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/198\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=198"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=198"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/introductiontoresearch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}