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SWK 310 -- Finding Information for Part III

Articles and ebooks at EKU Libraries

Find library.eku.edu to find peer reviewed articles and ebooks 

1. Go to library.eku.edu

2. In the white search box, type in your search keywords. 

3. Click on the Search Box 

Search Tip:  Keep the search broad, such as "voting rights" felony

 

 

Reading Peer Reviewed Articles

Reading a Peer Reviewed Article

Scanning and skimming are essential when reading scholarly articles, especially at the beginning stages of your research or when you have a lot of material in front of you.

Many scholarly articles are organized to help you scan and skim efficiently. The next time you need to read an article, practice scanning the following sections (where available) and skim their contents:

  • The abstract: This summary provides a birds’ eye view of the article contents.

  • The introduction: What is the topic(s) of the research article? What is its main idea or question?

  • The list of keywords or descriptors

  • Methods: How did the author(s) go about answering their question/collecting their data?

  • Section headings: Stop and skim those sections you may find relevant.

  • Figures: Offer lots of information in quick visual format.

  • The conclusion: What are the findings and/or conclusions of this article?

Parts of a Peer Reviewed Article

Common Components of Original Research Articles

 

Note: Not all articles contain all components.

Title

Offers clues to article’s main topic.

Author(s)

Describes who is responsible for this work. May be one person, a group, or an institution. Make note of authors and institutions you see repeatedly during your search process.

Abstract

Summarizes article contents and findings; may include methodology.

Keywords

Describe the content in quick words or phrases. Help you place the work in context with other literature. Good for quick reference!

Introduction

Summarizes the article’s main idea, thesis, or research question. Should answer the question, "Why this?" Includes background knowledge on the topic and provides information about research motivations, impact, or purpose. 

Literature Review

Places the research in context with prior work. Analyzes important contributions that the author(s) believe are relevant and that the article builds upon to create new knowledge. Sometimes includes a theoretical framework. A good place to look to find additional sources for your research!

Methods (or Methodology)

An explanation of how and why the authors approached the examination of their question and the collection of data. May include information about the limitations of their chosen methodology.

Discussion

An examination of meaning and implications of the research for existing and future exploration.

Figures

Graphical representation of findings and other relevant information. Includes charts, graphs, maps, images, tables, etc. Look at figures during your initial scan to determine relevancy and quality.

Conclusion

A synthesis of the findings and importance of the research.