Self and Others
Psychology 410
Prof. Bertram Malle
Winter 1999

Tips for Reading
  1. Read Abstract, then Introduction, then Conclusions

  2. Next, read study by study

    When you do this, try to

    • define the purpose of each study (e.g., a hypothesis, a question, a debate)
    • make clear what the results really show
    • think about how the authors interpret their results and whether there are alternative interpretations

  3. Throughout your reading, collect the technical terms used in the article. That way you create growing personal glossary of important psychological concepts.

  4. Always remind yourself of the authors' goal: Do they want to demonstrate a phenomenon, explore a process, compare two alternative hypotheses, show that someone else is wrong, rule out an alternative explanation, etc.

  5. Separate the claims the authors make from the evidence they provide or cite -- does the evidence really support the claims? If not, which evidence would?