LAB 6 –READING AN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Purpose
Most students initially find reading research articles somewhat difficult. Not only do authors of journal
articles usually assume that the reader has specialized knowledge of psychological theory, terminology,
research, and statistics, but also the organization and style of such articles differ markedly from other
kinds of writing. However, with practice and patience, you will gradually find it easier and easier to read
and comprehend the that articles you find in scholarly journals. Because the ability to read scholarly
journals is a very useful and important skill for all psychologists – researchers and nonresearchers alike –
the purpose of this lab is to develop your familiarity with reading research articles.
Preparation
1. Read the following description of the organization of journal articles.
2. Print out and read one of the journal articles available on the Lab web site (note that these articles
were chosen, based on the interests expressed by previous students in this class)
3. Look over the “Article Summary” sheet (see the following pages), and answer the questions for
the article that you chose to read. Print our your answers and bring them to lab - be prepared to
turn it in and to discuss your summary/evaluation.
Organization of journal articles
Reading a journal article will be easier if you understand how such articles are structured (and why), and
if you keep certain points in mind as you read. Most research articles in psychology and other behavioral
sciences are written according to "AP A style," a set of guidelines set forth by the American
Psychological Association. The purpose of AP A style is to insure that all published articles conform to a
standard set of guidelines so that the reader is not distracted by a hodgepodge of idiosyncratic styles. This
consensus on structure ensures that a reader knows exactly where to look to find each kind of information.
Most empirical articles have five major sections, plus references.
Abstract. The abstract provides a brief summary of the purpose, methods, results, and
conclusions of the study. Always read the abstract first because it provides a framework that may help
you better understand the article.
Introduction. The body of the paper then begins with an introductory section. The introduction provides a
rationale for the study within the context of existing theory and research on the topic under investigation.
After reading the introduction, you should be able to answer questions such as: Why was the study
conducted? What questions were the authors trying to address? What previous research on this topic has
been conducted?
Method. In the Method section, the authors describe, in a step-by-step fashion, how the study was
conducted. You might find it helpful to jot down the central elements of the method, including a
description of the design (such as a diagram of the experimental conditions or a list of the variables
being studied). As you read, ask yourself: Who were the participants (their number, sex, and
characteristics)? What did they do in the study? What kind of study was this--descriptive,
correlational, experimental, or what? In your view, was this procedure a reasonable way to investigate
the topic under study?
Results. Don't be intimidated by all of the statistics you will encounter in the results section.
You will become more comfortable with the statistics as you proceed in this course. In the meantime,
simply try to get the gist of what the authors are talking about. You will need to stop from time to
time to !illnls; about the patterns of results, referring back to your notes about the procedure. No one,
not even the most seasoned researcher, can read through the results like they're reading a newspaper
article. If the authors refer to tables or graphs of data, examine them carefully. Typically, it's easier
to understand the findings if you see them visually. As you read the results section, keep in mind that
not all results are equally important. In fact, the authors may present data that are somewhat tangential
to the purpose of the study. Try not to lose sight of the purpose of the study amidst all of the data.
Discussion. In the discussion, the authors will summarize and interpret their results, and
provide their conclusions regarding what the study tells us about psychological processes. They are
also likely to discuss limitations of the study and make recommendations for future research.
Note. The main goals of scientific writing are to convey information as clearly and as accurately as
possible. And although the questions and theories addressed in scientific journals can be fascinating, the
writing style itself, quite frankly, is not intended to be fun, exciting, or artistic. Again, the key goals are
clarity and accuracy, not entertainment. So, read articles with the goal of gaining insight into
interesting/important topics, not to be entertained by the writing itself.
Lab Session
1. Turn in your article review answers
2. In lab, discuss your summaries and evaluations of the study
Article Summary
Title of article
Authors
Name of journal, year published, volume, and pages
Your purpose for reading this article (what question are you trying to answer?)
Authors' purpose of the study
What are the Psychological variables that are being examined?
Participants
Procedure
How is each of the Psychological variables measured or manipulated?
Major findings
Other interesting findings
Problems/limitations of the study (conceptual or methodological)
Strengths of the study (conceptual or methodological)
Questions about the study / Other reactions
Idea for a follow-up study