Reading Articles

Active and Analytical Reading

Now that you know how to read abstracts you'll need to read the sections and consider the purpose of each.

1. Introduction: Identify the research question, the rationale for the study, and the predictions for the study. Assess the rationale for the question and predictions based on the literature reviewed.
   
   
2. Methods: Identify how the authors conducted the study, including materials, sample, and procedure. Assess the methods - are there any flaws?
   
   
3. Results: Identify and assess the major findings. How does the data demonstrate the findings?
   
   
4. Discussion: Identify the meaning and applications of the findings and how these findings compare to other studies. Assess the limitations of the study.