Identifying And Reading Scholarly Articles Gew 101b Writing As A
1) One way to know that an article is scholarly or peer-reviewed is if the database gives a visual indication as to whether an article is scholarly. For example, the second image below indicates that the article is scholarly, unlike the first image, which indicates it is from a periodical that is not peer-reviewed. It's important to note, however, that this visual indication does not definitively mean the article is peer-reviewed. In fact, some articles published in peer-reviewed journals may not actually be peer-reviewed. For example, book reviews, editorials, and news items do not undergo the same review process as research articles. Therefore, even if the database gives a visual indication that the article is from a peer-reviewed or scholarly journal you still need to ask the questions given below to ensure that it is a...
2) The purpose of a scholarly article is to inform and disseminate original research to scholars. Readers should ask the following questions when trying to determine if an article is scholarly (peer-reviewed): Scholarly articles, sometimes called peer-reviewed articles are the agreed-upon method of disseminating original research conducted by professors, scientists and other experts. Many college and university instructors expect students to model their writing style like peer-reviewed articles. A journal is a scholarly publication containing articles, letters to the editors and book reviews written by researchers, professors and other experts. They begun as print publications, similar to a magazine, but are mainly used electronically now.
Journals focus on a specific discipline or field of study and are published on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). The intended reading audience is other experts and not the general public. The authors are considered experts because they have PhDs and have specialized in-depth knowledge of current and past theories and years of training in research and analysis. When a professor writes a research article, they will submit it to a peer-reviewed journal to be published. However, before the journal will accept the article, it will be reviewed by experts in the same area of study, hence, her peers. If her peers deem her research lacking validity, they will be asked to make changes or her article might be outright rejected.
This is why assignments ask you to use articles published in peer-reviewed journals as they contain rigorous research and use a critical lens when picking what gets published. It is also important to keep in mind that there are many theories or schools of thought within a discipline, and professors chose to conduct her research through one particular theory. An economics professor, for example, could write her article through a Marxist or a Neoliberal lens. You need to develop an awareness of the different theories in your subject area as this will help you identify what lens the author is using to conduct their research. This is also important if an assignment requires sources from different theories or if you must support your thesis with sources from one particular theory. Experts like professors often publish their evidence-based research in non-peer-reviewed sources like books and newspapers.
These sources are still considered authoritative and contain expert research and are often reviewed by editors for accuracy, but they do not count as peer-reviewed sources. It is important to know the difference if your professor specifically requests that you use articles from peer-reviewed journals. In some classes, your professor will expect you to use "primary research" or "empirical" articles. For tips on finding them in Penn State databases, see our cheat sheet. In the Social Sciences and Education, primary/empirical research is based on observed and measured phenomena and derives knowledge from actual experience rather than from theory or belief. How do you know if a study is empirical?
Read the subheadings within the article, book, or report and look for a description of the research "methodology." Ask yourself: Could I recreate this study and test these results? Another hint: some scholarly journals use a specific layout, called the "IMRaD" format, to communicate empirical research findings. Such articles typically have 4 components: Reading research can be a challenge. However, the tutorials and videos below can help. They explain what scholarly articles look like, how to read them, and how to evaluate them:
Reading scholarly sources can be difficult. This handout provides strategies to help you read dense, lengthy academic articles efficiently and effectively. Examine the article and its publisher for clues. Peer-reviewed academic journals are intended for scholars in that field, whereas popular titles (like Time or Newsweek) are intended for a more general audience. You may not be the primary audience for the text, and that’s OK. If this is the case, the author may reference other scholarly works assuming that you’ve read them, or they may cite facts or events that you haven’t learned about.
If you encounter these elements, notice them, but try to keep moving through the article – sometimes you can keep moving without looking everything up. Also remember that if you are not the primary audience, you may not enjoy the writing style – so a little perseverance may be necessary! 2: Think about why your professor assigned this reading You may not be the author’s intended audience, but understanding the reason you’ve been asked to read the article can help you stay engaged and read with purpose. What subject will this article prepare you discuss? How does this article fit into the main questions or topics of the course?
What will the instructor ask you to do with the knowledge you gain from the article? 3: Skim strategically to identify the main argument or idea in the text For your GEW research paper, you will be required to find and use some scholarly journal articles to support your argument. Complete the GEW Database Tutorial to learn how to combine key terms, search in Academic Search Premier, and download the full text of articles. Go to CSUSM University Library’s website. Click on Databases A-Z.
Under Most Popular Databases, click on the blue button Academic Search Premier If you are off-campus you will be asked to login. You will be taken to Academic Search Premier. Reading scholarly articles can be a difficult task. Scholars have done their research and written up their results for many reasons, but not for many audiences. Although you as a student need to use the articles in your assignment, they were not written specifically for you.
(No offense). The fact is, these scholars are experts in their field writing for other experts. They are using specialized language that can be difficult for someone new to understand. So, you can sit down with an article and start reading, but you may become discouraged pretty quickly. The tips below are to help you read scholarly articles STRATEGICALLY. These tips can help you approach a scholarly text for easier reading and better understanding.
Read the Abstract first. The Abstract will preview the entire article, makes it easier to judge whether it is relevant. Titles can only tell you so much about the content of the article. The Abstract acts as a preview for the entire article, including the methods and results. By reading the Abstract first, you can get a better idea of what the article is actually about, if it relates to what you are researching, and whether it is worth your time to...
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1) One Way To Know That An Article Is Scholarly
1) One way to know that an article is scholarly or peer-reviewed is if the database gives a visual indication as to whether an article is scholarly. For example, the second image below indicates that the article is scholarly, unlike the first image, which indicates it is from a periodical that is not peer-reviewed. It's important to note, however, that this visual indication does not definitively ...
2) The Purpose Of A Scholarly Article Is To Inform
2) The purpose of a scholarly article is to inform and disseminate original research to scholars. Readers should ask the following questions when trying to determine if an article is scholarly (peer-reviewed): Scholarly articles, sometimes called peer-reviewed articles are the agreed-upon method of disseminating original research conducted by professors, scientists and other experts. Many college ...
Journals Focus On A Specific Discipline Or Field Of Study
Journals focus on a specific discipline or field of study and are published on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). The intended reading audience is other experts and not the general public. The authors are considered experts because they have PhDs and have specialized in-depth knowledge of current and past theories and years of training in research and analysis. When a professor writes a r...
This Is Why Assignments Ask You To Use Articles Published
This is why assignments ask you to use articles published in peer-reviewed journals as they contain rigorous research and use a critical lens when picking what gets published. It is also important to keep in mind that there are many theories or schools of thought within a discipline, and professors chose to conduct her research through one particular theory. An economics professor, for example, co...
These Sources Are Still Considered Authoritative And Contain Expert Research
These sources are still considered authoritative and contain expert research and are often reviewed by editors for accuracy, but they do not count as peer-reviewed sources. It is important to know the difference if your professor specifically requests that you use articles from peer-reviewed journals. In some classes, your professor will expect you to use "primary research" or "empirical" articles...