WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en-US 00:00:04.890 --> 00:00:08.920 Social science articles are valuable tools of knowledge and a form of communication for 00:00:08.920 --> 00:00:11.121 scholars and researchers. 00:00:11.264 --> 00:00:15.130 The format and language in social science articles is different from other types of 00:00:15.130 --> 00:00:19.912 writing you may be more familiar with, but each section of an article has an important 00:00:19.912 --> 00:00:21.550 function. 00:00:21.550 --> 00:00:27.750 This video will give you quick tips for reading and understanding social science articles. 00:00:27.750 --> 00:00:30.010 Step 1: Establish why. 00:00:30.010 --> 00:00:32.150 Know why you're reading an article. 00:00:32.150 --> 00:00:33.930 Is it to understand a topic? 00:00:33.930 --> 00:00:38.210 To conduct your own experiment or to make an argument? 00:00:38.210 --> 00:00:40.820 This will help you focus your reading. 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:46.303 Step 2: Understand the layout of social science articles and what each section tells you. 00:00:46.303 --> 00:00:49.289 Most articles will follow this format: 00:00:49.289 --> 00:00:50.460 Abstract. 00:00:50.460 --> 00:00:54.820 This gives you a general overview and helps you determine if it's relevant. 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:56.130 Introduction. 00:00:56.130 --> 00:01:00.649 This section explains the rationale for the study and identifies hypothesis. 00:01:00.649 --> 00:01:01.929 Methods. 00:01:01.929 --> 00:01:06.230 This section explains the design of the study or how researchers gather their data. 00:01:06.230 --> 00:01:10.150 It also explains the test measures and variables. 00:01:10.150 --> 00:01:11.440 Results. 00:01:11.440 --> 00:01:15.710 This section explains what the authors found normally represented in statistics charts 00:01:15.710 --> 00:01:17.220 and tables. 00:01:17.220 --> 00:01:18.510 Discussion. 00:01:18.510 --> 00:01:23.939 This explains the implications of the findings and mentions areas that need further research. 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:25.250 Conclusion. 00:01:25.250 --> 00:01:27.320 This section sums it all up. 00:01:27.320 --> 00:01:28.600 And the references. 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:31.510 This is where the authors list other works used. 00:01:31.510 --> 00:01:37.740 Step 3: Once you have a basic understanding of the layout, you should now skim the article. 00:01:37.740 --> 00:01:40.770 This will help you get familiar with the topic. 00:01:40.770 --> 00:01:45.040 Step 4: Do a more focused reading of the article and take notes. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:50.539 Highlight important information, jot down any questions you have, mark areas where you 00:01:50.539 --> 00:01:55.369 question the conclusions authors make but most importantly you need to write yourself 00:01:55.369 --> 00:02:00.969 notes on how the information is relevant to you and how will you use this information. 00:02:00.969 --> 00:02:05.609 This will help you when you go to incorporate the work into your own project 00:02:05.609 --> 00:02:09.560 Step 5: identify and summarize key info. 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:14.700 Some important things to note when you're reading the article are, what's a hypothesis? 00:02:14.700 --> 00:02:16.810 How did the authors prove this? 00:02:16.810 --> 00:02:19.120 What are their measurements and procedures? 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:24.310 Are the identified measurements and procedures the best choice for proving the hypothesis? 00:02:24.310 --> 00:02:25.440 are there any limitations? 00:02:25.440 --> 00:02:30.030 NEXT SLIDE What are the variables and are there any variables that the authors didn't 00:02:30.030 --> 00:02:31.426 account for? 00:02:31.426 --> 00:02:33.769 What are the authors key findings? 00:02:33.769 --> 00:02:37.050 Does the data provide and support these findings? 00:02:37.050 --> 00:02:38.990 Are the conclusions accurate? 00:02:38.990 --> 00:02:42.400 And finally, what questions still need to be answered? 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:46.680 But most importantly, you should jot down your thoughts and opinions and how you plan 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:50.300 to incorporate this research in your own projects. 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:55.200 Answering those questions will help you utilize the article effectively and do further research 00:02:55.200 --> 00:02:56.769 if necessary. 00:02:56.769 --> 00:02:59.080 Last step is to check the sources. 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:03.240 Looking at the articles reference section will help you find sources that cover similar 00:03:03.240 --> 00:03:04.709 topics. 00:03:04.709 --> 00:03:09.489 If you need more help, remember you can always ask a librarian or check out the APA style 00:03:09.489 --> 00:03:11.470 manual for more examples. 00:03:11.470 --> 00:03:15.000 Please visit library.usu.edu for more information.