Understanding Research Papers

Before you get started with your research, it is good to learn how to quickly read, interpret, and explore multiple academic journal articles for your assignment. By having a firm grasp of the structure of a scientific research paper, you will quickly be able to find the information you need in any subject area. While context and terminology can change depending on your subject area, most academic articles have some of the same basic units of information.

To quickly and efficiently read an academic paper, you can review the following sections before studying it all detail.

1. Title - Gives you a quick glance to see if the information in the article is remotely related to your topic
2. Abstract - Provides a summary of the major points of the article, best place to start when determining if an article is worth continuing
3. Introduction and Conclusion - Read these back to back to get a generalized overview of the contents discussed in the article
4. Methods, Results, and Discussion - Now read the rest of the paper in-depth, take proper notes, and create a summary (annotation)

For a more in-depth review of the structure an academic article, watch this video by Emma Hitt Nichols in Sage Research Methods. While not every paper you come across will follow this exact structure, most will have the same basic contents modified for the subject area or type of article, such as a case study or an action research study.

Hitt Nichols, E. (Speaker). (2021). Structure of a scientific paper [Video]. Sage Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529777246

Research Strategies

Starting any project is sometimes the hardest part and research is no exception. Luckily, you have access to a number of resources at your fingertips that will help you with planning, searching, evaluating, and writing your academic assignment. 

Sage Research Methods and Sage Reference are great places to start! Sage Research Methods reviews strategies, methods, and foundations for research in a variety of fields, including psychology. It even includes a Project Planner, which highlights the entire research process in an easy-to-read format. Sage Reference includes a number of handbooks and general information content that can help you form a basis for your topic.

Upgrade your Research Skills with Credo

If you want a more in-depth learning experience on information literacy, we have two great databases: Credo Information Literacy - Core and Credo Information Literacy - Health Sciences. These databases contain many different ways to develop your research skills, including finding and evaluating resources.