Best Approach to Read a Scientific Article

Abstract

Reading a scientific article is a complex task. The worst way to approach this task is to treat it like the reading of a textbook-reading from title to literature cited, digesting every word along the way without any reflection or criticism. Rather, you should begin by skimming the article to identify its structure and features. As you read, look for the authors main points. Generate questions before, during, and after reading. Draw inferences based on your own experiences and knowledge. And to really improve understanding and recall, take notes as you read. This handout discusses each of these strategies in more detail.