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Reading An Academic Article Ulster University

Leo Migdal
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reading an academic article ulster university

This guide offers practical tips when reading an academic article to improve comprehension and retention of information. Reading a scientific paper can take time, especially if you are new to it. However, the more you read, the quicker you will become at identifying the information you need for your studies. It is important to recognise the difference between grey literature original research and a literature review. Common forms of secondary research include: Whether you initially focus your reading on original research or literature reviews depends on the type of information you need.

If you want a broad overview of a topic, start with literature reviews. Part of determining a source's relevance also includes evaluating its suitability for use in academic research. Not all sources are created equal. Take note of: Once you find a source that appears both relevant to your topic and appropriate for academic research, use the following tips for reading peer-reviewed articles and academic books to help you use your time... Know your question or argument.

Keep your question in mind as you read with the understanding that it may change as you gain more understanding and do more research. Start with the Abstract (summary). The abstract will help you decide if you should go any further. If it doesn't seem to address your question or argument, stop reading. Read the Conclusion/Discussion. The main claims of the author's work should be discussed at the end.

If the conclusion is relevant, then move on to the Introduction. Use this guide to help you find and evaluate academic information and generate effective reading techniques and strategies. At University you are expected to approach your reading in a different way than perhaps before. You will select the material to read and assess whether the information is important and relevant enough to use in assessments. You will be expected to read and make notes for lectures seminars and for assessment. So approach your reading in a strategic way to help manage your reading workload.

A guide for non-scientists who want to read research publications. Your favorite podcast mentions a new study about the health risks of seed oils. A viral social media post says that new research reveals the reason for rising cervical cancer rates. How can you be sure what they’re saying is accurate? One way is to look at the study yourself. Scientific publications—also called research articles, journal articles, or scientific papers—are written for an audience of fellow researchers, not a general audience.

Because of this, when they are cited in media intended for the broader public—podcasts, YouTube videos, and news articles, for example—their findings can be misinterpreted, often unintentionally, or dramatized for clicks. Some findings are based on narrow studies that were not designed to be applied to a broader group. Study findings may also be cherry-picked or misrepresented to perpetuate a narrative—or even to stoke fear. Emily Gurley, PhD ’12, MPH, distinguished professor of the practice in Epidemiology, has reviewed tens of thousands of papers throughout her career, including for the Novel Coronavirus Research Compendium during the height of the... While being able to read and fully understand a study is a skill researchers learn over years of practice, Gurley explains that it can be useful for the average reader to know what makes... To look more deeply at a finding or statistic, you first need to identify the study it comes from:

Part of determining a source's relevance also includes evaluating its suitability for use in academic research. Not all sources are created equal. Take note of: Once you find a source that appears both relevant to your topic and appropriate for academic research, use the following tips for reading peer-reviewed articles and academic books to help you use your time... Know your question or argument. Keep your question in mind as you read with the understanding that it may change as you gain more understanding and do more research.

Start with the Abstract (summary). The abstract will help you decide if you should go any further. If it doesn't seem to address your question or argument, stop reading. Read the Conclusion/Discussion. The main claims of the author's work should be discussed at the end. If the conclusion is relevant, then move on to the Introduction.

Find resources and guidance to help you develop your academic reading and note making skills. Use this guide to help you find and evaluate academic information and generate effective reading techniques and strategies. Use these resources to develop your note making skills, generate new ideas, synthesise information and help devise a writing structure. Ulster University is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (NIC100166). View the range of electronic resources offered by Library Services. USearch, the Library's discovery service, offers a Google-like search across many of the Library's databases and e-resources.

Lists Library databases & e-resources available to support teaching, learning & research. Access details, descriptions, passwords, user guides & more are available here. Use the Journal Finder page to search the Library's electronic journal collection. Search for a particular journal title or browse alphabetically or by discipline. There are 25,000+ eBook titles on the Library Catalogue and the collection is continually being added to. Details about the Library's journal collection, including print journals, electronic journals and the UFindit service.

Sometimes called serials, magazines or periodicals, journals are anything published regularly such as Nature or Harvard Law Review that contain articles on current research. This information is not likely to be found in books and this is why journal articles are important in finding supporting evidence for assignments. Also, because journals are published at regular intervals, e.g. weekly, monthly or quarterly, the information they contain is much more current at the time of publication. Books, on the other hand, can sometimes take up to two or three years to be published. The Library has both electronic and print journals.

We keep thousands of journals in original paper format on our shelves in each Library. To check our Print Journal collection, use the Journals option on the Library Catalogue to search for the journal by its title. The Library also has a significant collection of full-text electronic journals (e-journals) which can be accessed via PC, or smart device, and most of them are available off-campus. The Electronic journals service provides an A-Z list ot e-journal titles, with coverage details and be searched by Journal title, ISSN or Publisher. There is a very limited Article search but it is not a replacement for searching the Library's Electronic Databases. There are also links to e-journal titles from within the Library Catalogue and directly full-text e-journals, where appropriate, within the Reading List Catalogue.

When you complete your essay, report or dissertation, you must cite all the sources you used, accurately and consistently. Sometimes these sources (or references) may be footnotes within the text, or a list of references at the end of the work. In the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & the Social Sciences, there are a variety of referencing schemes used, e.g. Harvard, an 'author, date' style using references at the end of the piece of work, and OSCOLA, MLA, MHRA and Chicago which use a footnotes system. Always consult your lecturer or department on which citation style is preferred, particularly if you are studying across more than one subject, and use the same method throughout. Harvard is an Author-Date system of referencing, with short in-text citations in the body of the piece of work and a full citation to the source in the list of references at the end...

The Ulster University Business School (UUBS), the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE), and the majority of Schools within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) use a variation... Not all AHSS subjects use an author-date referencing style, so please ask your lecturer in advance. Full help and support for this style is given on the Harvard Referencing Guide (not including LHS), including self-led tutorials and quizzes from Cardiff University with links to the full guide to Referencing in... MLA The Modern Language Association of America has a website on MLA style. All fully registered Ulster University students may avail of Skills for Study, an interactive resource aimed at improving your academic skills . Access modules on:

Studiosity is an online service providing students with 24/7 academic writing support either by live one-to-one chat or by uploading a more significant piece of draft writing for review. Each student has 8 credits (per half year) that can be used this semester and each credit gets one support session. Feedback will be on academic writing, rather than subject content, and a student will get feedback on structure, referencing and grammar. Click here to find out more and to access Studiosity. The Student Success Centre offers access to academic and study skills resources and support throughout your learning journey to enhance your experience at Ulster University. Visit the webpages for more information.

Topics covered are academic, digital and study skills plus support for maths and statistics.

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This Guide Offers Practical Tips When Reading An Academic Article

This guide offers practical tips when reading an academic article to improve comprehension and retention of information. Reading a scientific paper can take time, especially if you are new to it. However, the more you read, the quicker you will become at identifying the information you need for your studies. It is important to recognise the difference between grey literature original research and ...

If You Want A Broad Overview Of A Topic, Start

If you want a broad overview of a topic, start with literature reviews. Part of determining a source's relevance also includes evaluating its suitability for use in academic research. Not all sources are created equal. Take note of: Once you find a source that appears both relevant to your topic and appropriate for academic research, use the following tips for reading peer-reviewed articles and ac...

Keep Your Question In Mind As You Read With The

Keep your question in mind as you read with the understanding that it may change as you gain more understanding and do more research. Start with the Abstract (summary). The abstract will help you decide if you should go any further. If it doesn't seem to address your question or argument, stop reading. Read the Conclusion/Discussion. The main claims of the author's work should be discussed at the ...

If The Conclusion Is Relevant, Then Move On To The

If the conclusion is relevant, then move on to the Introduction. Use this guide to help you find and evaluate academic information and generate effective reading techniques and strategies. At University you are expected to approach your reading in a different way than perhaps before. You will select the material to read and assess whether the information is important and relevant enough to use in ...

A Guide For Non-scientists Who Want To Read Research Publications.

A guide for non-scientists who want to read research publications. Your favorite podcast mentions a new study about the health risks of seed oils. A viral social media post says that new research reveals the reason for rising cervical cancer rates. How can you be sure what they’re saying is accurate? One way is to look at the study yourself. Scientific publications—also called research articles, j...