Eight simple steps to getting the most out of a journal article
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Be clear what you want from it: e.g. evidence in support of a particular theory, an important theoretical result, understanding of a particular concept
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Read the abstract
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Decide whether the journal meets your objective in (1)
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Read the introduction and conclusion
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Re-evaluate whether the journal meets your objective
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Write down important points from abstract, introduction and conclusion
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Decide whether to read on.
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If so, decide which sections to skip or skim – often articles contain complex mathematical derivations which it is not necessary to understand (normally you will use simpler models from textbooks or lecture notes).