Reading a research article for the first time can feel overwhelming. These articles are often dense, detailed, and written for experts. The good news is you do not have to read every word from beginning to end.
Instead, know that you can read strategically, focusing on the most important parts to understand the main ideas.
Quick Tips:
Do not try to understand everything. Research articles are written for experts.
Focus on the main idea, the purpose, and how it connects to your class or topic.
Think of reading a research article like watching a movie trailer, first you want to understand the story before focusing on the details.
The abstract is a short summary at the beginning of the article.
The abstract can tell you:
What the study is about
What the researchers did
What they found
Goal: Get the “big picture” before reading.
The Introduction can explain:
The topic
The research question
Why the study or topic matters and its significance
Goal: Ask yourself what this article is trying to solve or present, and why is it important to my topic?
The methods section explains how the study was conducted.
This section can tell you:
How the study was done using very detailed and technical language
What study is it (survey, experiment, analysis)
This section can tell you:
Key findings and results
Answers to research questions posed earlier in the article
Important patterns that led to results and findings
Larger connections to bigger ideas
Significance
Now that you understand the main idea and results/conclusions, skim the article more fully for:
Important examples
Patterns
Key terms or concepts that are repeated
Go back and carefully read only the sections that are most relevant to your research or topic.
This step can help you:
Understand key arguments in more depth
Identify important evidence or examples you may want to use
Take notes or pull quotes for assignments/Discussions
Goal: Focus deeply on what matters most for your purpose, not the entire article.
Summary:
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Methods Section
4. Results & Conclusion
5. Skim Remaining Text
6. Close reading (As needed)
Need More Help?
If you would like more help with the research process, we have a Finding Great Research Workshop and a Research Support Office Hours. Click here to view the timing of those sessions and a full list of our Workshop and Office Hours offerings.