Before diving into scholarly articles, it's helpful to understand how they differ from popular sources like magazines and newspapers.
| Popular Sources | Scholarly Sources |
| Shorter articles (1-5 pages typically) | Longer articles (typically 7+ pages, often with columns) |
| Written for general audiences, even when included in discipline specific magazine | Written by experts for other experts; peer-reviewed |
| Authors are journalists or staff writers who may not have experience or credentials on the topic | Authors have credentials to be considered experts (PhD, MD, etc.) |
| Accessible language, minimal technical jargon |
Technical language specific to field |
| Few or no citations | Extensive citations and references lists |
| Contains advertisements and photos | Include data visualizations (charts, graphs, tables); no ads |
| Published frequently (daily, weekly monthly) | Published less frequently (quarterly, annually) |
Examples of Popular Sources - Time, Psychology Today, Vogue
Examples of Scholarly Sources - American Journal of Nursing, Journal of Philosophy
Published, scholarly information comes in a variety of packages, but the most dominant form overall is the research article, which is published in an academic journal.
An academic journal is a serialized publication, like a magazine or newspaper, though they are often published with less frequency like only once a year! Typically academic journals are published annually, quarterly, bimonthly, or monthly. They are published by places like university presses, academic societies, or commercial publishers. Most have a specific disciplinary focus, such as modern history, astrophysics, or French literature, and the primary audience for these publications will be students and researchers in those disciplinary areas.
Here is an example of a scholarly journal:
*Image from: http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/apq.html
This is the journal American Philosophical Quarterly (APQ). It's an academic journal published four times per year.
From the website:
\*Image from: http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/apq.html
As can be seen from the text above, it's: published by a university press (University of Illinois) and it's published on behalf of another group, North American Philosophical Publications. Having publishers publishing materials on behalf of another group, such as a learned society, is a common in academic journal publishing.
Scholarly articles follow different structures depending on the discipline. Understanding these structures will help you navigate articles more effectively..
Research articles in fields like sociology psychology, biology, nursing, and chemistry typically include many (but sometimes not all) of these sections:
|
Abstract |
Brief summary of the article, including methodology and results. |
| Introduction | Background information about the topic of research, with reasoning for why the study is being done. |
|
Methods |
How the study was done. The details of the research, including set-up and how data was collected. |
| Results/Findings | Presentation of the data from the study. This section often includes charts, tables and graphs as visual representations of the data. |
| Discussion | Analysis of the data, and how the study relates to existing knowledge of the topic. The authors evaluate whether the results of their study actually answered their research question. |
| Conclusion | The authors wrap up the article by discussing how their study adds to the existing knowledge on the topic and outline potential research for further studies. |
| References | List of resources (articles, books, journals, etc) that authors consulted when developing their research. |
Articles in fields like literature, history, and philosophy have a different structure. Humanities articles often read more like essays and may not have clearly labeled sections beyond the introduction and conclusion.
Within the Arts and Humanities, scholarly articles are set up differently than in the Sciences. Articles will read more like essays, rather than scientific experiments. In the Humanities, scholars are not conducting research experiments on participants but rather are making logical arguments based on the evidence they have, which often comes from texts. In literature, for example, a scholar will be studying a particular novel of an author. In history, a scholar will look at the primary source documents from the time period they are studying.
The following sections are generally included in humanities scholarly articles, although not always and might not be clearly marked.
| Abstract | This brief summary is sometimes included, sometimes not. |
| Introduction | Usually pretty long and gives a lot of background information for topic being studied. Thesis "statement" will be found within introduction, although it is not limited to one sentence. Literature Review might also be included here. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | The discussion likely runs through the entire article and does not have a separate section. The conclusion might not be as neatly wrapped up in a humanities articles as in the sciences. Things might be a little unresolved. |
| Works Cited | List of resources used by the author(s). |
Scholarly articles are written by experts for other experts, which can make them challenging to read. Use these strategies to approach them more effectively:
Read the abstract first - Get an overview of the article's purpose and findings
Skim the introduction and conclusion - Understand the research question and main takeaways
Look at visual elements - Review tables, charts, and graphs to see key data
Read multiple times - Don't expect to understand everything on the first read
First reading: Skim for the main ideas
Second reading: Focus on details and take notes
Take notes actively - Write in margins or in a separate document
Summarize each section
Note questions or confusing points
Identify key arguments
Consider "what it says" vs. "what it does"
What it says: Summarize the content
What it does: Identify the paragraph's purpose in the larger argument
Practice critical reading
Engage with the ideas presented
Look for strengths and weaknesses in the argument
Consider alternative interpretations
Adjust your reading speed and strategy
You don't need to read every word with the same intensity
Skim sections that provide background you already understand
Slow down for complex arguments or unfamiliar concepts
Give yourself time
Scholarly reading takes longer than reading for pleasure
Plan for multiple reading sessions if needed
Build background knowledge
If you're new to a topic, start with more accessible sources
Use textbooks or review articles to build foundational understanding
Look up unfamiliar terminology
Don't get discouraged
Scholarly articles are difficult by design - they weren't written for students
Understanding improves with practice
Ask for help from professors or librarians when needed
Scholarly articles are peer-reviewed research published in academic journals
Structure varies by discipline (sciences vs. humanities)
Articles are written for expert audiences using technical language
Strategic reading approaches help you understand complex material
Multiple readings and active note-taking improve comprehension
Contact a librarian for assistance with finding, accessing, or understanding scholarly articles.
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