Summarizing Research Articles Techniques

Professor Failour provides tips on reading and summarizing research articles. He suggests starting with the abstract and conclusions, understanding the literature review, and reading the methods section if necessary. For summarizing, focus on main points, avoid tangential information, and reword content in layman's terms. Use tools like double entry journals and Google for unfamiliar terms. Consistent formatting and understanding key themes are crucial.

What is one of the main challenges when reading research articles?

• They are usually very short.

• They contain a lot of technical language and jargon.

• They are mostly fictional.

• They are often written in a foreign language.

What is the first step recommended for reading a research article?

• Read the entire article.

• Read the methods section.

• Start with the abstract.

• Look at the graphs.

Why is the methods section important for researchers?

• It helps in replicating or extending the research.

• It lists all the references used.

• It provides a summary of the article.

• It contains the author's biography.

What tool can be used to understand unfamiliar terms in a research article?

• A dictionary

• Google

• A thesaurus

• A calculator

What is a double-entry journal used for?

• To summarize the entire article.

• To list all references.

• To collect quotes and personal reflections.

• To record personal thoughts only.

What should you do if you don't understand a paragraph in a research article?

• Ask someone else to read it for you.

• Ignore it completely.

• Reread it until it becomes clear.

• Skip it and move on.

When summarizing a research article, what should you focus on?

• The author's personal life.

• Main points and key findings.

• The length of the article.

• Every single detail.

What should be avoided when summarizing a research article?

• Following a structured format.

• Using layman's terms.

• Focusing on main ideas.

• Using direct quotes extensively.

Why is it important to avoid copying the exact words of the authors in a summary?

• It is not necessary for understanding.

• It makes the summary too long.

• It is considered plagiarism.

• It is difficult to do.

What is the purpose of using layman's terms in a summary?

• To make it more complex.

• To make it accessible to a wider audience.

• To impress the reader.

• To increase the length of the summary.