Reading academic articles

Summary

This ELC self-learning video offers a time-efficient approach to reading academic articles. It highlights the importance of reading titles, abstracts, keywords, and introductions for a quick overview. The video suggests skimming literature reviews and methodology sections unless deeply interested, while emphasizing the value of reading discussions, implications, and conclusions for understanding research findings and their societal relevance.

Takeaways

• 📚 Read the Title and Abstract first, as they provide an overview of the article's topic.
• 🔍 Look for Keywords to find similar research articles and speed up your search.
• 📖 Introduction is a MUST READ, as it defines the article's title and highlights the research's interest.
• 📈 Skip the Literature Review if you're only seeking background information, as it's not essential for understanding the article.
• 🔬 Skip the Methodology if you're not interested in the research process or comparing different methods.
• 📊 Findings or Results can be skipped if they're too complex or heavily statistical.
• 💭 Read the Discussion, Implications, and Conclusion sections for an explanation of the results and their relevance.
• ✅ MUST READ sections include Title, Abstract, Keywords, and Introduction.
• 👀 When you're interested, read the Literature Review, Methodology, Findings/Results, and sometimes the Discussion.
• 🚫 No need to read sections that are too difficult to understand; it's okay to skip them.

Q & A

What is the main challenge students face when reading academic articles?

Students often find it stressful to read a large number of academic articles within a limited time.

Why is it beneficial to read academic articles despite the challenges?

Reading academic articles is beneficial as it provides background information, builds up useful vocabulary, and offers the latest research findings and ideas.

What is the basic format of an academic article?

The basic format of an academic article typically includes sections such as Title, Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Findings/Results, and References.

Why are the Title and Abstract of an academic article important to read first?

The Title and Abstract are important to read first because they provide an overview of the topic and help determine the relevance of the article to the reader's needs.

What role do Keywords play in academic articles?

Keywords are useful for searching for journal articles with similar research topics, which can speed up the process of finding relevant literature.

Why is the Introduction section considered a MUST READ in an academic article?

The Introduction section is a MUST READ because it defines the article's title and explains what makes the research interesting and relevant.

Can you skip the Literature Review section when reading an academic article? Why?

Yes, you can skip the Literature Review section if you are not interested in the history of related research on the same topic, as it is not necessary to understand the article.

What is the purpose of the Methodology section in an academic article?

The Methodology section describes how the research was conducted, which is useful for advanced researchers who want to compare different research methods.

Why might you skip the Findings or Results section of an academic article?

You might skip the Findings or Results section if it is too complex or if it mainly covers statistical data that is not relevant to your needs.

What is recommended to read in the Discussion, Implications, and Conclusion sections?

It is recommended to read the Discussion, Implications, and Conclusion sections because they explain the results in everyday language, highlight the relevance of the findings, and summarize the key points of the research.

What is the final tip given for reading academic articles more efficiently?

The final tip is that you don't need to understand every word in the journal; you can choose to skip parts that are too difficult to understand.