Analyzing & Summarizing Scholarly Research

1. Analyzing & Summarizing Scholarly Research

2. Learning Objective: This presentation will highlight some general techniques students can utilize when reviewing scholarly research. An emphasis will be placed on reading strategies to improve comprehension, while also stressing the importance of critical thinking. Highlighted skill sets will be directly applicable to the Diagnostic Essay assignments, and continued development of the ARP.

3. What Constitutes Scholarly Research? Here are some basic characteristics to consider: It is based on original research or experimentation. Composed by an individual(s) affiliated with an institution of higher learner (college/university). Subject to the peer-review process. Include footnotes and/or a bibliography. Typically published by academic presses.

4. Scholarly vs. Popular • When attempting to distinguish scholarly journals from popular periodicals, there are a few things you should consider: • Coverage & Description • Scholarly-main title typically covers one subject area. • Popular-cover many titles in one issue. • Scholarly-language is more technical/research specific. • Popular-language is more simplistic/appropriate for general audience. Authorship • Scholarly-written by scholars/experts in the field. • Popular-written by reporters/journalists/or staff writers General Appearance of the Document • Scholarly-published less frequently/little or no advertising • Popular-published more frequently/contains extensive advertising

5. Just a Few Samples…. level

6. Parts of a Scholarly Article • Title and Author Information • Identifies title of article, author(s), academic affiliations & relevant contact information • Abstract • Paragraph summarizing main content of article • Introduction • Presents research question being asked, provides context of research, & highlights previous work specific to topic • Methods • Identifies how research was conducted • Results • Results from research are presented along with any graphs or illustrations • Discussion • Explains how results addressed main research question, & may suggest need for further research • References • Presents publications cited by author(s) in their work

7. Summary Does Not = Evaluate Primary Goal – provide a brief, accurate overview of key points of articles Do not offer an evaluation or opinion of original article Identify and illustrate the author(s) use of key points and supporting evidence Refrain from using direct quotes or including too many specific details from the original article

8. Process of Summarizing Briefly review the entire article Note headings used to indicate main sections/topic shifts Read the abstract Review the concise summary of the article Read the article Gain a sense of the author’s topic & important relationships/connections between sections of the article. Re-read the article Take detailed notes in the margin of the paper, use different highlighters to distinguish between the abstract and more detailed information.

9. Process of Summarizing Continued Observe connections After writing the first draft of your summary, look for the connections between one main idea to another. Remember, your summary should be concise and not too bogged down with excessive detail. Read your summary to someone else After reading your draft to someone else, ask them if the summary made sense, and effectively reflects the original article. Finalize your document in a scholarly format Introduce your source, and describe the key points of the original article. Maintain focus on proper APA citation, and remember, be concise. Proofread your summary Carefully review your document for any grammatical errors, formatting mistakes, or general content concerns.

10. Summary Sample John Doe’s Writing for the Advancement of Psychology (2000) is a cross-disciplinary study which clearly illustrates procedural differences in the professional practice of psychology as they evolve through recurrent training approaches. To assist in the clarification of differences in knowledge-making practices, he identifies three patterns of variation specific to inter-disciplinary practice which range from direct application to in-direct learning.

11. Final Thoughts If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your instructor or graduate advisor. Just remember, your summary should capture the main essence of the original article, yet, be more concise than the abstract. Have fun and good luck with your article summaries.