Reading journal articles

Before reading an article in detail, consider what you need from it.

If you have found the article while researching a topic or assessment, start by checking:

• Title and abstract: What is the article about? What question, argument or finding does it address?

• Introduction: Why was the research or discussion undertaken? What issue is the author investigating?

• Headings and conclusion: Which topics are covered, and what are the main conclusions?

• Publication date: Is the article sufficiently current for your purpose? Older research may still be important, particularly when examining influential theories or the development of a subject.

An abstract can help you identify a potentially useful article, but it may not contain enough detail to understand or evaluate its findings.

If the article appears relevant, decide which parts you need to examine more closely. If it is required reading for your module, follow your tutor's instructions rather than setting it aside because it seems less relevant to a particular assessment.

For more guidance on assessing the quality and suitability of published research, see Critically evaluating journal articles.

The structure of a journal article depends on its subject and the type of research or argument it presents.

Many articles reporting original empirical research follow a structure that includes an introduction, methods, results and discussion. You may see this described as IMRaD.

Common sections include:

• Abstract: A short overview of the article's purpose, approach and main findings or argument.

• Introduction: Explains the topic, provides background and identifies the research question, purpose or argument.

• Methods: Describes how research was undertaken, including how information or evidence was collected and analysed.

• Results or findings: Presents what the research found, sometimes using tables, graphs, figures or examples.

• Discussion: Interprets the findings, considers their significance and relates them to other research.

• Conclusion: Draws together the main points and explains their implications.

• References: Identifies the sources used and can help you find related research.

Not every article follows this pattern. Review articles may bring together findings from existing studies. Theoretical or humanities articles may develop an argument through themed sections rather than having separate methods and results.

Use the headings and organisation of the particular article you are reading. Do not assume that every article will contain all the sections listed above.

Once you have an overview of the article, read more closely to understand its purpose, evidence and conclusions.

1. Identify the main question or argument

Look at the introduction to establish what the article is trying to investigate, explain or argue.

Ask yourself:

• What is the central question or issue?

• Why does the author consider it important?

• What does the article aim to contribute?

Understanding the purpose will help you follow the rest of the article.

2. Understand the approach

If the article reports original research, examine how it was carried out.

Consider what information the researchers used, how they obtained it and how they analysed it. You may need to look up unfamiliar methods or terminology.

For other types of article, consider how the author develops their argument, uses evidence or brings together existing scholarship.

You do not need to understand every technical detail immediately, but you should be able to explain the general approach.

3. Identify the main findings or supporting evidence

Work through the results, findings or main argument.

Ask what the article actually shows or establishes.

If it includes tables, graphs or figures, read their titles, labels and explanations. These may contain important details that are not fully repeated in the main text.

Pay attention to the difference between reporting a finding and explaining what that finding might mean.

4. Follow the interpretation and conclusions

Look at how the author interprets the evidence and connects it to the original question or argument.

Consider:

• What conclusions are being drawn?

• How do they relate to the findings or evidence?

• Does the author acknowledge important limitations or uncertainties?

• How does the article relate to other research or perspectives?

You do not need to decide immediately whether you agree. First, make sure you understand what the author is saying and why.

Example: understanding a research finding

Imagine an article reports that students who regularly complete practice quizzes tend to achieve higher examination scores.

You would first establish what the researchers investigated and how they collected their evidence.

You would then distinguish between the finding (a relationship between quiz completion and examination scores) and a possible interpretation (practice quizzes may help improve learning).

Before concluding that quizzes caused the higher scores, you would need to consider the research design and whether other explanations are possible.

This is part of reading an article carefully: recognising what was found, how it was interpreted and what can reasonably be concluded.

For a fuller method of assessing research quality, evidence and limitations, see Critically evaluating journal articles.

5. Record what you have learned

After reading, check that you can explain the article's main purpose, approach, findings or argument in your own words.

Make a note of useful information, questions and connections with other material. Record the article's details and any relevant page numbers so you can return to the original source.

For further guidance, see the Skills Hub guides to Reading and Note-taking.

Academic articles often assume that readers already understand some of the subject's terminology, theories or research methods.

If an article feels difficult, try the following approaches:

• Break it into sections. Concentrate on understanding one part at a time rather than attempting to absorb the entire article.

• Start with the main purpose. Return to the abstract and introduction to remind yourself what the author is investigating or arguing.

• Check unfamiliar terms. Use relevant textbooks, course materials or other reliable explanations to develop your background knowledge.

• Read selectively. Spend more time on the sections most relevant to your task, while keeping enough context to understand their meaning.

• Use other sources for context. A textbook chapter or review article may provide a more accessible introduction to an unfamiliar topic.

• Ask questions. Identify precisely what you do not understand, then discuss it with your tutor or use appropriate learning support.

You may need to reread difficult passages, particularly when they contain unfamiliar methods or detailed arguments. Reading academic literature becomes easier as you develop your subject knowledge and gain experience.

AI tools may help you understand unfamiliar terminology, explore a difficult explanation or develop questions about an article. However, an AI-generated summary may omit important evidence, misrepresent findings or rely on only part of the text.

If you use AI assistance, follow your assessment requirements and university guidance. Check explanations against the original article, and do not upload licensed reading materials to another service unless you have permission.

See the Skills Hub's AI for academic reading guide for practical approaches, limitations and precautions.