EDUC 423: Assessment Strategies / Reading

Art of Reading a Journal Article (NIH)

"The reader should begin by reading the title, abstract and conclusions first. If a decision is made to read the entire article, the key elements of the article can be perused in a systematic manner effectively and efficiently. A cogent and organized method is presented to read articles published in scientific journals."

- Subramanyam R. (2013). Art of reading a journal article: Methodically and effectively. Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP, 17(1), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-029X.110733

Photo by Lukas from Pexels

Features of a Scholarly Article

It may help to see a visual of how a scholarly article is usually put together. The link below provides you with an interactive guide.

• Anatomy of a Scholarly Article

What to Look For...

(* content adapted from USC Libraries - https://libguides.usc.edu/evaluate/scholarlyarticles)

Abstract  

The abstract, typically a few sentences or a paragraph long, highlights the focus, study results and conclusion(s) of the article. 

Introduction  

Introduction to the topic, explanation of the purpose of the study, and presentation of why it is important, unique, or how it adds to existing knowledge in their field.  

Introduction - Literature Review  

Summary of previous research or discussions published on this topic, called a "Literature Review".  This section outlines what others have found and what questions still remain.

Methodology / Materials and Methods 

Details of how the study was performed. There should be enough specifics so that you could repeat the study if you wanted. 

Results   

Findings from the study. Look for data and statistical results in the form of tables, charts, and graphs. Some papers put the analysis here.

Discussion / Analysis  

What the authors felt was significant about their results. The authors analyze their data and describe what they believe it means.

Conclusion  

Final thoughts and conclusions. These may include: how the study addressed their hypothesis, how it contributes to the field, the strengths and weaknesses of the study, and recommendations for future research. Some papers combine the discussion and conclusion.

Creating Infographics

There are several free, online tools that you can use to create infographics. 

Canva is one you may want to try - you can create logos, presentations, business cards, flyers, and other materials, in addition to infographics.

Canva's free version should be enough for completing this assignment.