BIOL 203: Honors Biology (McDougal)

Scientific articles are complex and can be difficult to read -- even for people who have spent years studying science. The resources on this page will help you develop strategies to read and understand scientific articles.

The video below from the University of Minnesota Libraries provides a great explanation of strategies you can use to read and understand scientific journal articles.

Reading Order

Most scientists do not read an article from start to finish in order. Why not? Scientific articles are complex and can take a long time to read. By focusing on specific sections first, readers can save themselves time by identifying how the article relates to their research. If it does not look useful after reading those sections, they will move on to a different article.

Each scientist uses their own approach to reading articles. Here is just one reading order you may try:

1.  Abstract: The abstract is a summary of the article. You may want to read it several times to understand the key points to look for when you read further.
2. Discussion: The discussion section explains the results of the study and why they are important.
3. Introduction: The introduction section provides context for the study and identifies the authors' research questions and hypotheses.
4. Results: The results section shows what the researchers found and often includes tables and figures.
5. Methods: The methods section described the procedures that the authors used to conduct their study and analyze their data.

Unfamiliar Terminology

It is normal to come across words that you don't know when reading scientific articles -- even for your professors! For example, you may find the name of a new experimental procedure you have never heard of or a type of protein that you have never studied. If you see an unfamiliar word, pause and look it up.

Here are a few good places to find definitions for scientific terms:

Relevance to Your Research

Not every article you find is going to be helpful. As you read the abstract, discussion, and introduction especially, consider how the study relates to your research. It does not have to be an exact match for your topic but it should relate in some way. For example, if your research uses samples from spotted salamanders, an article about tiger salamanders could also be useful.