TUlib

CR regionEN, Wysiwyg textEN

Reading for research

Why is reading important?

Reading is an important part of the scientific process. You need to keep abreast of what other scholars are doing and have done before you. Scientific output is almost always published in the form of an article or paper first.

How to read

If you have time, try to read in three steps (Edwards 2008):

Step 1. Get an overview to discover what the text is likely to contain
Scan the title, table of contents, book cover, index, reference list and illustrations to get an overview of the text: use this checklist. 

Step 2. Take in details to gain understanding
Read the relevant chapters or read the entire text to gain understanding

Step 3. Make the text your own, so you remember the relevant content
Read important sections again and summarise them in your own words to help you remember them.

Help! There is too much to read

Be selective! It is very important to evaluate the various information resources to determine what to read. Reading takes time, so be very critical when selecting your reading list. Make sure you choose not only according to relevance, but also on authority and scope. Older publications can be just as relevant as newer ones, but do check to see if there are any recent publications on your topic.

Try a different approach. Start by setting a deadline. How much time do you have for reading? Be realistic. How many of the selected books and articles can you read in this time? Time yourself if you don't know how long it takes you to read an article or chapter. Revise your reading list or your schedule, if necessary.

Help! I don't understand this text

Don't be afraid of publications that seem too difficult or complex!

If you have trouble understanding a scientific publication, you can use:

• the index or glossary (books only) to look up terms you are unfamiliar with
• a reference work such as a dictionary, handbook or Wikipedia to get a basic understanding of unfamiliar terms and concepts
• the reference list to find an easier, introductory publication to start with
• a wiki or forum to discuss it with other scholars or students

Finally, or if all else fails, you could mail the author - if an e-mail address is provided - with any specific questions you might have.

Reference

Edwards, Paul N. 2008. How to Read a Book, v4.0, [cited 17-6-2009]. Available from http://si.umich.edu/~pne/PDF/howtoread.pdf