Tips for Reading Psychology Journal Articles

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Updated on October 31, 2023

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If you are studying psychology in high school or college, reading psychology articles published in academic and professional journals is a necessity. You might read these articles as part of a literature review for a paper you are writing, or your instructor may even ask you to write a critique of an article.

Whatever the reason, it is essential to understand what you are reading and find ways to summarize the content in your own words.

At a Glance

Reading psychology research articles can be complex and may seem daunting, especially to beginners without experience reading or writing this type of paper. Learning to read this type of writing is mostly a matter of experience, but utilizing a few simple tactics can make this process much more manageable.

This includes learning how psychology articles are structured, briefly skimming, taking notes, asking questions, identifying the main points, and looking through the reference section.

Understand the Structure of a Journal Article

At first glance, a journal article may seem to be a confusing collection of unfamiliar terminology and complicated tables.

Most journal articles follow a fairly standardized format that conforms to guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (APA). By understanding this structure, you will feel more comfortable working your way through each section.

Abstract

The abstract is a short, paragraph-long section provides a brief overview of the article. Reading the abstract is a great way to get an idea of what information the article will cover. Reading this section first can help you decide if the article is relevant to your topic or interests.

Tip

Even if the abstract suggests that the article might not be relevant for your needs, it might be helpful to quickly skim the article to see if it references any information that you might find useful.

Introduction

The introduction is the second section of the article that introduces the problem and reviews previous research and literature on the topic. This part of the article will help you better understand the background of the research and the current question under investigation.

Method

The method section is the part of the article that details how the research was conducted. Information about the participants, the procedures, the instruments, and the variables that were measured are all described in this section.

Results

The results section describes the actual results of the study. This important section details what the researchers found, so pay careful attention to this part of the article.

Tables and figures are frequently included in addition to the text. Glancing through any of the tables and figures can be a helpful way to learn more about the findings.

Discussion

The discussion section explains what the results of the study really mean. In this section, the author(s) interpret the results, outline the implications of the study, and provide possible descriptions of future research that should be conducted.

References

The reference section lists all of the articles and other sources cited in the article. This can provide valuable information about other research that has also been done on this topic.

Skim Through the Article

Once you understand the basic structure of the article, your first step should be to skim through the material briefly. If you are reading the article online, chances are good this is something you'll do naturally—people commonly skim-read online content.

Never start by doing an in-depth reading of an article before you have skimmed over each section. Attempting a thorough read-through before you’ve skimmed the contents is not only difficult; it may also be a waste of valuable time.

Skimming is a great way to become familiar with the topic and the information included in the paper. In some cases, you may find that the paper is not well-suited to your needs, which can save time and allow you to move on to a research article that is more appropriate.

Take Notes on Each Section and Ask Questions

Your next step should be to carefully read through each section, taking notes as you go. Your first skim-read should not be the only time you read the article, since skimming alone is linked to worse comprehension.

Instead, do a thorough review and write down important points. Make note of any terminology or concepts that you do not understand.

Once you’ve read the entire article, go back and start looking up the information you didn’t understand using another source. This might involve using a dictionary, textbook, or online resource. You might even ask a classmate or your professor.

Identify Key Information

Whether you are looking for information that supports the hypothesis in your own paper or carefully analyzing the article and critiquing the research methods or findings, there are important questions that you should answer as you read the article.

What is the main hypothesis?
Why is this research important?
Did the researchers use appropriate measurements and procedures?
What were the variables in the study?
What was the key finding of the research?
Do the findings justify the author’s conclusions?

Note the Sources Cited

When reading a research article, it’s all too easy to focus on the main sections and overlook the references. However, the reference section can actually be one of the most important parts of the paper, especially if you are looking for further sources for your own paper.

Spending some time reviewing this section can indicate important research articles on the topic area in which you are interested.

Reading psychology journal articles takes some time and effort, but it is a critical part of the research process. By learning how to approach these articles and knowing what to look for as you skim through them, you will have an easier time selecting sources that are appropriate for your research project or paper.

What This Means For You

Reading psychology articles isn't always easy, especially when there is a lot of confusing terminology and statistical information that you don't quite understand. You can make it easier by skimming the content before reading it more thoroughly. Then, you can write down any questions you have and consult other sources, such as your textbook or instructor, to learn more.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Nagda S. How to write a scientific abstract. J Indian Prosthodont Soc. 2013;13(3):382–383. doi:10.1007/s13191-013-0299-x
Harvard College Writing Center. A brief guide to writing the psychology paper.
Erdemir F. How to write a materials and methods section of a scientific article? Turk J Urol. 2013;39(Suppl 1):10-5. doi:10.5152/tud.2013.047
Bavdekar SB, Chandak S. Results: Unraveling the findings. J Assoc Physicians India. 2015 Sep;63(9):44-6. PMID:27608866
American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.
Fitzsimmons G, Jayes LT, Weal MJ, Drieghe D. The impact of skim reading and navigation when reading hyperlinks on the web. PLoS One. 2020;15(9):e0239134.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239134
Jayes LT, Fitzsimmons G, Weal MJ, Kaakinen JK, Drieghe D. The impact of hyperlinks, skim reading and perceived importance when reading on the Web. PLoS One. 2022;17(2):e0263669. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263669

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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