SPEAKER: How to read a scholarly article. Scholarly articles can be a bit intimidating and confusing to read. Fortunately, this type of article is typically broken down into sections, and knowing a little bit more about these sections will help you better understand the article. 

The first section you should read is the abstract. The abstract of an article is one of its most useful parts and is usually found on the first page. It summarizes the article and gives you an idea of what to expect. 

Next, jump down to the discussion section, which is usually found toward the end of the article. The discussion section summarizes and gives insights on the results. You may also see a section labeled as the conclusion. And if so, you will want to read that as well. 

At this point, if you feel the article is relevant to your search, jump back to the beginning and read the introduction. The introduction may include some background information and a literature review of the topic. The author typically discusses other important studies conducted on the topic, points out any gaps in coverage, and then possibly lists how the research presented in this article is important or helpful. 

The methods or methodology portion of the article explains the exact procedures followed when conducting the research. The results portion of the article includes statistics or data obtained from the study. At the very end of the article, you should find a list of references. This list includes the sources of information that the researchers consulted while conducting their research. This is a great place to look for additional articles about your topic. 

Remember, read the abstract, discussion, and conclusion sections first. If these sections do not include information that you think will help you with your work, move on to another article. If you need more help with your research, please contact the library, and we will be glad to assist you. 

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