Interpersonal Communication (COMM 155): Reading Scholarly Articles

Click on the image below to review different parts of a scholarly article.

Peer review is used by most scholarly journals. When an author completes an article, before it can be published, it must go through a rigorous evaluation process called peer review. This process is to assess the quality of each article submitted and ensure it meets the highest standard of scholarship within the area of study.  

Peer review process:

1. Author submits article to a journal
2. Editor of journal reviews article and rejects or sends on for peer review 
3. Article is sent to a group of scholars in the same academic discipline as the author (their peers)
4. Peer reviewers, also known as referees, review the article for quality and originality
5. Peer reviewers will provide recommendations to the editor, often suggesting revisions prior to publication
6. After the peer-review process has been completed the editor can reject the article, return to author to make revisions, or publish as is
7. The entire process can take several months to several years

Journal articles should rarely be read from beginning to end. When doing research, it is typically best to start with the Abstract of the article, then directly proceed to the Discussion section. The combination of the Abstract and the Discussion sections should provide the reader with enough information to determine if the article is suitable for their research assignment. It is suggested to approach reading journal articles in the following order: 

1. Abstract - A brief summary of the article. (This can help you determine if the article meets your research needs. If you determine the article is not relative to your assignment, stop reading and find a different article that is better suited to your research requirements.)
2. Discussion/Conclusion - A discussion of the findings of the study; includes an interpretation of the results, how the study was carried out, strengths/weaknesses, how the findings fit within the context of the field of study, and suggestions for potential research. (After reading this section, you should be able fully determine if the article is appropriate for your assignment needs. If you determine the article is not useful, stop reading, return to your results list and choose another article. If the article fits your needs, continue to read/skim the rest of the article.
3. Introduction - Background information on the topic. Includes previous research, identifies gap(s) in research and introduces the purpose of the study. (If you are familiar with the topic, this section may be repetitive, so skim rather than read. If you are beginning your research on this topic, this is a good section to read thoroughly in order to gain a better understanding of the topic.)
4. Methods - A detailed account of how the study was carried out, providing the precise details should another researcher want to repeat the study. (You can skim this section to clarify any information found within the Discussion section.)
5. Results - Statistical findings at the conclusion of the study, indicates if the findings were significant. (Complicated statistical information, which can be used to clarify findings and discussion. Often difficult to understand.)
6. References - Citation information on research used within the article. (A good way to find additional articles related to your topic.)