1. Choosing Journal Articles
This workshop will...
Help you decide which articles to use in your written assignments or research project
Show you how to read abstracts to assist with your choice
Introduce two types of journal articles
Louise Livesey
Academic Skills Adviser
19/11/2018
Academic Skills Advice

2. Academic Skills Advice
The Plan…
Understanding different types of articles
Searching for articles
Breaking down abstracts
The benefits of breaking down abstracts
Share the plan with attendees and give out note-taker HO
19/11/2018
Academic Skills Advice

3. 1.Understanding different types of articles
Research
Review
primary source
secondary source
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Academic Skills Advice

4. Academic Skills Advice
2.Searching for articles
Identify key words/phrases
Discuss whether embedded or bolt-on study skills sessions more effective for first year undergraduate students.
Search for articles using terms found
Analyse your results and look for synonyms
Search again using different combinations
Journal – key questions to ask
Title – words and phrases such as content analysis gives method
Abstract – breakdown sentence by sentence to find what each gives you
Decision – is this an article I want to use
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Academic Skills Advice

5. Academic Skills Advice
3.Breaking down abstracts
Abstract content
A summary and includes:
The overall aim and specific objectives of the research
 The problem or task being addressed
 Methodology and methods
 Key findings
 Main conclusions and key recommendations (if appropriate)
Journal – key questions to ask
Title – words and phrases such as content analysis gives method
Abstract – breakdown sentence by sentence to find what each gives you
Decision – is this an article I want to use
19/11/2018
Academic Skills Advice

6. Steps in the process Gender Roles on Tween Television
3.Breaking down abstracts
Steps in the process Gender Roles on Tween Television
Journal
Check to ensure is reputable
Title
Key words and phrases
Abstract
Sentence by sentence
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Academic Skills Advice

7. Academic Skills Advice
3.Breaking down abstracts
1This content analysis of gender role portrayals in 49 episodes of 40 distinct United States tween television programs aired in 2011 examined two genres: teen scene (geared towards girls) and action-adventure (geared towards boys)./ 2This programming is of interest because tweens are a lucrative market, they watch more television than any other age group, and television programs are created specifically for them./ 3Furthermore, members of this special group are in an important developmental stage in which social and intellectual schema are established and identity and gender are explored./
4The analysis focused on the numbers of male and female characters in both genres, and the gender role portrayals of characters in terms of appearance, behaviours, and personality characteristics in the two genres./ 5Results show that females, compared to the U.S. population, were underrepresented in the action adventure genre, but that the gender distribution in the teen scene genre mirrored the male–female distribution in the U.S. population./ 6Overall, compared to males, females were more attractive, more concerned about their appearance, received comments about their “looks.” /7Females were presented similarly in both genres./ 8Overall, males were shown in varying levels of attractiveness, and were portrayed more stereotypically in the action adventure genre./ 9Exploring these results through the lenses of cultivation theory and social cognitive theory shows that tween viewers could potentially develop narrow conceptions about their range of possibilities in the world./
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Academic Skills Advice

8. Academic Skills Advice
3.Breaking down abstracts
What you have learned
Whether the research was primary or secondary in nature
The focus of the research
Why they have researched this subject
Methodology and method
The results
The theories employed to interpret findings
19/11/2018
Academic Skills Advice

9. Activity 1: Juvenile Murder v Juvenile Violence
3.Breaking down abstracts
Activity 1: Juvenile Murder v Juvenile Violence
Journal
Trust me on this one too
Title ?
Abstract
In pairs/small groups, break it down sentence by sentence
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Academic Skills Advice

10. Academic Skills Advice
3.Breaking down abstracts
1Juvenile homicide is a social problem that has remained a central focus within juvenile justice research in recent years. 2The term juvenile murderer describes a legal category, but it is purported to have significant scientific meaning. 3Research has attempted to conceptualize adolescent murderers as a clinical category that can be reliably distinguished from their nonhomicidal counterparts. 4This study examined 33 adolescents adjudicated delinquent or awaiting trial for murder and 38 adolescents who committed violent, nonhomicidal offenses to determine whether the two groups differed significantly on family history, early development, delinquency history, mental health, and weapon possession variables. 5The nonhomicide group proved more problematic on many of these measures. 6Two key factors did distinguish the homicide group: these adolescents endorsed the greater availability of guns and substance abuse at the time of their commitment offenses. 7The significance of this finding is discussed, and the implications for risk management and policy are reviewed.
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Academic Skills Advice

11. Academic Skills Advice
3.Breaking down abstracts
Sentences 1-7
Juvenile homicide is a social problem.
Juvenile murderer as a term.
Differences between juvenile offenders
Number of participants and parameters of research
More difficult backgrounds of one group
Distinguishing factors
Implications
19/11/2018
Academic Skills Advice

12. Academic Skills Advice
3.Breaking down abstracts
Sentences 1-7
Literature review
Method
Results
Discussion and implications
This is what the sentences are telling you (and probably in this order):
Content of the literature review
Methods
Results
Discussion and implications
19/11/2018
Academic Skills Advice

13. Benefits of the break down process
4.The benefits of breaking down abstracts
Benefits of the break down process
Saves you time
Focus on what you are looking for
Results
Methodology
Research topic
Participants
Once you have selected your journal articles, you can look for common aspects between them and look for particular sections you are particularly interested in, such as the results. In this way, you build up your literature ‘bank’ for use in any assignment, but particularly for literature reviews.
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Academic Skills Advice

14. Academic Skills Advice
References
American Public University System (2014) What's the difference between a research article (or research study) and a review article? Accessed 11 February 2014.
Burns, T. and Sinfield, S. (2012) Essential study skills: the complete guide to success at university. 3rd edition. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Cottrell, S. (2013) The study skills handbook. 4th edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
DiCataldo, F. and Everett, M. (2008) Distinguishing juvenile homicide from violent juvenile offending. In Shon, P.C.H. (2012) How to read journal articles in the social sciences. (24-26). London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Gerding, A and Signorielli, N. (2014) Gender roles in tween television programming: a content analysis of two genres sex roles. Sex Roles. Jan Vol. 70 (1/2) 43.
Farlex Inc (2014) The Free Dictionary. Accessed 20 May 2014.
Shon, P.C.H. (2012) How to read journal articles in the social sciences. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
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Academic Skills Advice

15. Academic Skills Advice Service
Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23. Give us a call or come speak to us Mon-Fri
Who am I? Louise, the dedicated workshop adviser.
Who can help me with study and writing skills? Lucy and Russell run Instant Advice Monday-Friday 10am-4pm
and Writing Skills Clinics three times a week. You can also
access self-help resources on our website
Who can give me maths advice? Helen and Michael specialise in Maths support for students though clinics and pre-booked appointments.
How do I get in touch? Telephone:
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Academic Skills Advice

16. Academic Skills Advice
Any questions?
Produced by Louise Livesey December 2015
19/11/2018
Academic Skills Advice