Online Learning Education Strategies Module 4
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Reading journal articles in a strategic and purposeful way
As you progress in your academic endeavors, it is likely that you will encounter a diversity of journal articles as part of your curriculum and research activities. Although at first glance, these articles may seem challenging, by familiarizing yourself with the structure and language of journal articles, you will be able to effectively select pertinent articles and locate the information that is necessary for your work.
Summary and indexing terms, or Concise summary and terms used to index the articles
The abstract is a short summary of what the article is about. Reading it can help you decide if the article is useful for your research. Below the abstract, there will be a list of words called keywords. These words tell you what the article is about and can help you find other similar articles.
For example: "Abstract: This article talks about how climate change affects farming. Keywords: Climate Change, Farming, Effect."
A summary of existing research on a particular topic/ Literature Review
A literature review is when you read and summarize what other people have written about a topic you are researching. It helps you understand what has already been found out about the topic, and what still needs to be studied.
The literature review, typically located near the beginning of the article, provides an overview of previous research on the subject matter in question. It should be noted that the literature review pertains to research conducted prior to the current study and should not be confused with a discussion of the research presented in the article. However, the literature review may direct you to additional resources that are pertinent to your inquiry.
For example: "In the literature review of the article 'The Impact of Social Media on Adolescents' Mental Health', the authors summarize previous studies on the topic, highlighting key findings and areas for further research. The literature review may point the reader to additional relevant literature on the subject, such as 'The Role of Parental Mediation in Social Media Use Among Adolescents'."
Methods used in the research
The research methodology section provides a detailed account of the methods employed in the conduct of the study. This includes information such as the characteristics of the participants, the type of study (qualitative or quantitative), the techniques utilized to gather data, and the location(s) where the study was conducted.
For example, "In the methodology section of the article 'The Effect of Exercise on Cognitive Function in Older Adults,' the authors describe their participants as community-dwelling older adults between the ages of 60-85. They also specify that their research is quantitative in nature and data was collected through standardized cognitive assessments administered pre and post a 12-week exercise intervention. The study was conducted at a senior center in the city."
Outcomes
The results section presents a comprehensive examination of the outcomes of the study. This typically includes numerical data such as statistics, as well as visual representations of the data in the form of charts and graphs.
For example, "In the results section of the article 'The Impact of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress Reduction,' the authors present data collected from surveys administered pre and post a 8-week mindfulness meditation intervention. The results show a statistically significant decrease in self-reported stress levels in the intervention group as compared to the control group. The results are accompanied by bar graphs illustrating the changes in stress levels before and after the intervention."
Examination / Interpretation
This section talks about what the results mean and if they are important. The authors also say what the results mean for what we already know about the topic. They might also suggest things for people to study in the future. For example, an article about how exercise affects the brain of older people might say that the results showed the exercise helped the brain and suggest more research to see how long the effects last.
For example, in the discussion of the article 'The Effect of Exercise on Cognitive Function in Older Adults,' the authors discuss the significance of their findings which showed improvement in cognitive function post 12-week exercise intervention. They also examine the implications of the study on the current understanding of the relationship between exercise and cognitive function in older adults and suggest avenues for future research in this area.
Sources cited / reference
This section lists the sources the authors used when writing the article. You can look at this list to find other articles that are related to the topic you are researching. For example, if you are reading an article about how social media affects teenagers' mental health, you might find an article about cyberbullying in the reference list.
Approaching Journal Articles with a Plan
To effectively read journal articles, it's important to have a plan in place. This approach can help:
Check the abstract and keywords first to see if the article is relevant to your research. If it's not, move on.
Quickly scan the article to get a sense of its content, looking for headings, key terms, and visual aids like charts or graphs.
Take note of the article's bibliographic information for reference later.
Pay special attention to the discussion section for a better understanding of the article's findings.
Make a list of questions you want the article to answer. For example: "Does the author's viewpoint align with other researchers on this topic?"
Read the article with your questions in mind, making adjustments as needed.
As you find answers, note them down along with the page number they're on. These page numbers will be needed for properly citing the article in your work.
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Strategies for Note-taking while reading Online articles
Effective note-taking while reading online articles is a crucial aspect of learning. It allows you to quickly review the main points and assists in reinforcing your understanding of the material. Additionally, actively annotating the text prompts you to critically engage with the content, identifying important information, and contemplating its relevance to your field of study or professional practice. This approach promotes deeper learning and enhances retention of key material.
There are various note-taking methods available to you. Some individuals find underlining, highlighting, and making key notes in the margins of their books to be effective. Others may prefer creating typed notes and storing them electronically. One example of an electronic note-taking tool is a note-taking application such as Evernote or OneNote, which allows for syncing across devices, making it easy to access and review your notes wherever you are. Another example of an electronic note-taking tool is Hypothesis. Hypothesis is a free tool that can be added to your Chrome browser.