Reading a research paper
Orientation
Before starting to read a specialist research paper you need to know where it fits overall.  You may have a good idea from your lectures or course materials. It can be a good idea to start from a bigger picture by reading some less specific material first.      
1.	Recommended course books: These are textbooks used for teaching which aim to summarise a large body of work.  Find the section dealing with the topic of the paper.
2.	Review papers: These are academic journal articles which give an overview of an area of research with evaluation and comment.  Check if there is one available including the area you are interested in.
3.	Then you will be better prepared for tackling an original research paper.
Why you are reading determines how you should read.
Read the abstract and skim the article: Does it meet your purpose?  
Take down the details
All of the information you will need in order to acknowledge your source and so you can find it again if you need to.  Check the referencing system you have been asked to use.
•	Author, article title, year of publication and journal title.  
•	Write down the volume, issue and page numbers.
Beginnings and ends
This is a reading strategy which allows you to get an overview of the main ideas and the overall argument in the paper or journal article.  It can help you decide whether you need to read the whole article in detail or just need to get the gist of it.
Read the introduction 
This can be a good way of establishing the research questions and any hypothesis.  Usually authors give signposts to the most important parts of their writing.  Take a note of any key issues and concepts.
Take a quick look at any diagrams and tables of results.
Skip to the end and read the conclusion
This should help you confirm what the author's main ideas are.  Take a note of the key findings and any key quotations.
Pause to think
You should have a good idea of what the research is about and the conclusions.  Are the main ideas clear – do you need to skim and scan and clarify some things?  You might want to photocopy or print some pages (to annotate and highlight).  
Decide whether you need to read any more of this paper.
If you decide to read more
Identify sections requiring close reading.  Scan for specific information such as supporting evidence.  Have a list of questions in mind – be critical.
Be critical
Be on the lookout for the theoretical basis, whether the methods are sound and the analysis appropriate.  Watch out for issues concerning statistical significance and reliability.
You should always ask yourself whether there is any bias, particular influences or conflicts of interest.
Think about possible alternatives.  Different ways of doing this or other possible conclusions.
Check the reference list
What sources has the author used? Is anything missing?  Are there other books or articles that might help you?
End.