How to Improve Your Reading for Understanding: Difference between revisions
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Reading is a two-way conversation between the author and the reader, between someone who knows more about a subject and someone trying to learn about it. Reading is considered "the primary source for obtaining knowledge and information" and a "gateway to success in education."<ref name=":0">Alsaeedi ZS, Ngadiran NB, Kadir ZA, Hamood Altowayti WA, Al-Rahmi WM. [https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/JTS/article/view/8956/4354 Reading Habits and Attitudes among University Students: A Review.] Journal of Techno Social 2021;13(1): 44-53</ref> Regular reading becomes a habit only when the act of reading is persistent, constant and done critically.<ref name=":0" /> Reading and learning are linked, so reading strategies can help achieve learning success. Positive reading attitudes lead to positive reading experiences and good academic performance.<ref>Samsuddin SF, Aspura YI. Understanding the Reading Habit and Reading Attitudes Among Students in Research University Library in Malaysia. Journal of Academic Library Management (AcLiM), 2021;1(1): 12–23. </ref> | Reading is a two-way conversation between the author and the reader, between someone who knows more about a subject and someone trying to learn about it. Reading is considered "the primary source for obtaining knowledge and information" and a "gateway to success in education."<ref name=":0">Alsaeedi ZS, Ngadiran NB, Kadir ZA, Hamood Altowayti WA, Al-Rahmi WM. [https://publisher.uthm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/JTS/article/view/8956/4354 Reading Habits and Attitudes among University Students: A Review.] Journal of Techno Social 2021;13(1): 44-53</ref> Regular reading becomes a habit only when the act of reading is persistent, constant and done critically.<ref name=":0" /> Reading and learning are linked, so effective reading strategies can help achieve learning success. Positive reading attitudes lead to positive reading experiences and good academic performance.<ref>Samsuddin SF, Aspura YI. Understanding the Reading Habit and Reading Attitudes Among Students in Research University Library in Malaysia. Journal of Academic Library Management (AcLiM), 2021;1(1): 12–23. </ref> | ||
Reading is a process that requires motivation, interest, purpose and strategies.<ref name=":1" /> To be actively involved in reading, an individual must be critically engaged with the text, understand the intention for reading, | Reading is a process that requires motivation, interest, purpose and strategies.<ref name=":1" /> To be actively involved in reading, an individual must be critically engaged with the text, understand the intention for reading, stay focused and mentally committed.<ref name=":1">Lidadun BP, Chiuh N. [https://hrmars.com/papers_submitted/10434/to-use-or-not-to-use-monroes-sequence-for-reading-a-preliminary-study.pdf To Use or Not to Use Monroe’s Sequence for Reading? A] [https://hrmars.com/papers_submitted/10434/to-use-or-not-to-use-monroes-sequence-for-reading-a-preliminary-study.pdf Preliminary Study]. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2021: 11(7): 183– 207.</ref> Active reading is "reading with questions in mind and searching for answers."<ref>Sun TT. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8288757/pdf/nwaa130.pdf Active versus passive reading: how to read scientific papers]? Natl Sci Rev. 2020 Jun 19;7(9):1422-1427.</ref> It is a skill and a process that needs to be developed and requires effort.<ref>Carey MA, Steiner KL, Petri WA Jr. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7392212/pdf/pcbi.1008032.pdf Ten simple rules for reading a scientific paper.] PLoS Comput Biol. 2020 Jul 30;16(7):e1008032.</ref><ref>Castles A, Rastle K, Nation K. [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/1529100618772271 Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert.] Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2018;19(1): 5–51</ref> Because active reading is cognitively demanding, individuals need to do it when they are at their best mentally. | ||
This article | This article summarises how to improve your reading for understanding. | ||
== Levels of Reading == | == Levels of Reading == | ||
Mortimer Adler's | According to Mortimer Adler's classic, How to Read a Book,<ref>Adler, M. (1972). Adler, M. (1972). How to read a book: The classic guide to intelligent reading.</ref> there are four levels of reading. | ||
=== Elementary Reading === | === Elementary Reading === | ||
* Level of reading taught in elementary schools | * Level of reading taught in elementary (primary) schools | ||
* Converting alphabetical notation and symbols into sounds that are combined to form words and sentences | * Converting alphabetical notation and symbols into sounds that are combined to form words and sentences | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
Inspectional reading is considered a deeper reading experience. It is divided into systematic skimming and superficial reading. | Inspectional reading is considered a deeper reading experience. It is divided into systematic skimming and superficial reading. | ||
'''Systematic skimming''' is a quick check to decide if the reading material deserves more time and attention. | '''Systematic skimming''' is a quick check to decide if the reading material deserves more time and attention. It includes the following steps: | ||
# Reading the cover and the preface | # Reading the cover and the preface | ||
| Line 39: | Line 39: | ||
Analytical reading is a critical reading of the text. It is a thorough reading and one that engages the reader's mind. The following four steps are included in this reading: | Analytical reading is a critical reading of the text. It is a thorough reading and one that engages the reader's mind. The following four steps are included in this reading: | ||
''Step One'': Categorise the book. Example: is the book instructional, theoretical, or practical? | * ''Step One'': Categorise the book. Example: is the book instructional, theoretical, or practical? | ||
* ''Steps'' ''Two and Three'': Determine the overall structure of the book or its blueprint by doing the following: | |||
** Describe what the whole book is about | |||
** List the major parts of the book in order | |||
** Relate book parts to each other | |||
* ''Step'' ''Four'': Define the problem the author is trying to solve | |||
* | |||
''Step'' ''Four'': Define the problem the author is trying to solve | |||
=== Syntopical Reading === | === Syntopical Reading === | ||
| Line 69: | Line 67: | ||
=== Commit to Reading === | === Commit to Reading === | ||
Committing to reading is about ''making the time'' to read. It can be accomplished | Committing to reading is about ''making the time'' to read. It can be accomplished the following ways: | ||
* Listening to books via audiobooks or text-to-speech features built into apps | * Listening to books via audiobooks or text-to-speech features built into apps | ||
* Listening to podcasts featuring relevant authors in the field | * Listening to podcasts featuring relevant authors in the field | ||
* Setting up | * Setting up your environment so that reading is easier to do than watching TV | ||
* Setting aside time to read by including “reading time” in | * Setting aside time to read by including “reading time” in your daily schedule | ||
* Removing the temptation to fill | * Removing the temptation to fill time with passive entertainment, like streaming apps on your phone | ||
* Getting into the habit of carrying a book at all times | * Getting into the habit of carrying a book at all times | ||
* Staying away from reading books that are not helping to move closer to the chosen learning objectives | * Staying away from reading books that are not helping to move closer to the chosen learning objectives | ||
| Line 81: | Line 79: | ||
== Reading Journal Articles == | == Reading Journal Articles == | ||
Reading journal articles requires different skills and approaches than reading books or textbooks. <ref>How to read and understand a scientific paper: a guide for non-scientists. Available from https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/05/09/how-to-read-and-understand-a-scientific-paper-a-guide-for-non-scientists/ [last access 23.09.2023]</ref> It typically involves ''inspectional reading'' of an article and ''extracting only what is needed.'' <ref>Mewburn, I. Reading like a mongrel. Available from https://thesiswhisperer.com/2011/03/08/reading-like-a-mongrel/ [last access 23.09.2023]</ref> | Reading journal articles requires different skills and approaches than reading books or textbooks.<ref>How to read and understand a scientific paper: a guide for non-scientists. Available from https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/05/09/how-to-read-and-understand-a-scientific-paper-a-guide-for-non-scientists/ [last access 23.09.2023]</ref> It typically involves ''inspectional reading'' of an article and ''extracting only what is needed.''<ref>Mewburn, I. Reading like a mongrel. Available from https://thesiswhisperer.com/2011/03/08/reading-like-a-mongrel/ [last access 23.09.2023]</ref> | ||
The British Medical Journal has published ten articles called How to Read a Paper | The British Medical Journal has published ten articles called How to Read a Paper. These articles provide an overview of different approaches to reading journal articles. The following are the examples of these articles and what they include:<ref>How to read a paper. Available from <nowiki>https://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-readers/publications/how-read-paper</nowiki> [last access 23.09.2023]</ref> | ||
* Papers that go beyond numbers (qualitative research): Is the result more likely to be accepted as a fact if it is quantified? | * Papers that go beyond numbers (qualitative research): Is the result more likely to be accepted as a fact if it is quantified? | ||
Revision as of 07:41, 12 November 2023
Original Editor - Michael Rowe
Top Contributors - Ewa Jaraczewska, Jess Bell and Kim Jackson
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Reading is a two-way conversation between the author and the reader, between someone who knows more about a subject and someone trying to learn about it. Reading is considered "the primary source for obtaining knowledge and information" and a "gateway to success in education."[1] Regular reading becomes a habit only when the act of reading is persistent, constant and done critically.[1] Reading and learning are linked, so effective reading strategies can help achieve learning success. Positive reading attitudes lead to positive reading experiences and good academic performance.[2]
Reading is a process that requires motivation, interest, purpose and strategies.[3] To be actively involved in reading, an individual must be critically engaged with the text, understand the intention for reading, stay focused and mentally committed.[3] Active reading is "reading with questions in mind and searching for answers."[4] It is a skill and a process that needs to be developed and requires effort.[5][6] Because active reading is cognitively demanding, individuals need to do it when they are at their best mentally.
This article summarises how to improve your reading for understanding.
Levels of Reading[edit | edit source]
According to Mortimer Adler's classic, How to Read a Book,[7] there are four levels of reading.
Elementary Reading[edit | edit source]
- Level of reading taught in elementary (primary) schools
- Converting alphabetical notation and symbols into sounds that are combined to form words and sentences
Inspectional Reading[edit | edit source]
Inspectional reading is considered a deeper reading experience. It is divided into systematic skimming and superficial reading.
Systematic skimming is a quick check to decide if the reading material deserves more time and attention. It includes the following steps:
- Reading the cover and the preface
- Reading the table of contents
- Checking the index and glossary of terms to familiarise yourself with the language
- Finding core chapters and reading a few paragraphs from them
- Reading the last pages to get a summary of the author's arguments
- Listening to an interview with the author, if available, to learn what the book is about
When the decision is made that the material is worth reading, superficial reading is the next step in reading. Superficial reading is considered a first step towards analytical reading and is characterised by the following:
- Reading the text from start to finish relatively quickly
- Getting a sense of the overall structure of the text
Analytical Reading[edit | edit source]
Analytical reading is a critical reading of the text. It is a thorough reading and one that engages the reader's mind. The following four steps are included in this reading:
- Step One: Categorise the book. Example: is the book instructional, theoretical, or practical?
- Steps Two and Three: Determine the overall structure of the book or its blueprint by doing the following:
- Describe what the whole book is about
- List the major parts of the book in order
- Relate book parts to each other
- Step Four: Define the problem the author is trying to solve
Syntopical Reading[edit | edit source]
Syntopical reading allows the reader to synthesise knowledge from several books (or reading materials) on the same subject. Completing the following five steps allows for a broad understanding of a subject:
- Finding the most relevant passages from each book through inspectional reading
- Providing a unified vocabulary for all presented concepts to explore the topic
- Identifying the questions that the book should provide the answer for
- Defining the issues with multiple answers
- Analysing the discussion and establishing an informed opinion
Why and How to Read More[edit | edit source]
Reasons to Read More[edit | edit source]
Reading widely helps to:
- Appreciate the topic under study
- Identify the main authors whose opinions are important for the study
- Gain a better overview, or scope, of a topic
- Generate more and better ideas
Commit to Reading[edit | edit source]
Committing to reading is about making the time to read. It can be accomplished the following ways:
- Listening to books via audiobooks or text-to-speech features built into apps
- Listening to podcasts featuring relevant authors in the field
- Setting up your environment so that reading is easier to do than watching TV
- Setting aside time to read by including “reading time” in your daily schedule
- Removing the temptation to fill time with passive entertainment, like streaming apps on your phone
- Getting into the habit of carrying a book at all times
- Staying away from reading books that are not helping to move closer to the chosen learning objectives
- Avoiding interruptions while reading
Reading Journal Articles[edit | edit source]
Reading journal articles requires different skills and approaches than reading books or textbooks.[8] It typically involves inspectional reading of an article and extracting only what is needed.[9]
The British Medical Journal has published ten articles called How to Read a Paper. These articles provide an overview of different approaches to reading journal articles. The following are the examples of these articles and what they include:[10]
- Papers that go beyond numbers (qualitative research): Is the result more likely to be accepted as a fact if it is quantified?
- Papers that summarise other papers (systematic reviews and meta-analyses): Which are the most enduring and useful systematic reviews?
- Papers that tell you what things cost (economic analyses): Economic analysis defines choices in resource allocation.
- Papers that report diagnostic or screening tests: "New tests should be validated by comparison against an established gold standard."[11]
- Papers that report drug trials: Explains why uncontrolled before and after studies are not hard science.
- Statistics for the non-statistician. II: “Significant” relations and their pitfalls Help assess the statistical validity of a paper.
- Statistics for the non-statistician: Offers a checklist of preliminary questions to help with the appraisal of the statistical validity of a paper.
- Assessing the methodological quality of published papers: Are the methods used in research valid? Know five questions that help to decide on the method for the study.
- Getting your bearings (deciding what the paper is about ): Learn how to read the paper with a specific clinical question in mind.
- The Medline database
If you are involved in research, the following short YouTube videos will help you improve your reading strategies:
- Introduction to critical reading introduces reading as an active process.
- Reading with Purpose explains how knowing the purpose of the reading drives the reading strategies.
- The Reading Process discusses why you should read and write simultaneously.
- Anatomy of Journal Article presents key features of the journal article.
- Reading as a Dialogue defines reading as a social practice or a dialogue between the writer and the reader.
- Print or Screen Reading? Print or not to print is the question.
- Reading Critically means asking questions.
- Practical Strategies on how to read more effectively.
- Reading as part of your writing practice explains how important it is to be active and write as you read.
- Reading to improve your own writing requires getting some distance from your work.
- Reading to improve your writing as reading other people's work can improve our own articulations.
- Cultural Politics of Reading is about how not to become overly pragmatic.
Taking Notes While Reading[edit | edit source]
Note-taking during reading is a crucial step to improve reading for understanding, as reading and writing are linked to learning. The following elements are part of this activity:
- Interaction with the author or authors of a text through active reading
- Text annotation with questions and comments
- Adding the annotations and additional information to the notes
On-Paper vs. On Screen Reading[edit | edit source]
Practical implications of on-paper or on-screen reading are the following:
| On-paper reading | On-screen reading |
|---|---|
| It engages more deeply and actively with the author | It changes the way the text is read, possibly because of the difficulty navigating digital texts |
| It facilitates a more active approach to reading | It enables searching for information, making finding concepts, chapters, and notes within the text easier. |
| It feels easier to skip around meaningfully | It allows the annotation to be exported to other apps, simplifying working with the text in different places. |
Negative implications of on-screen reading include the following:
- It facilitates interruptions with notifications from other apps and services
- It can be more distracting, as authors often include hyperlinks that take the reader away from the central text
Conclusions[edit | edit source]
- Active reading is an essential part of a person's learning practice
- Active reading is a skill that can be improved
- The first step in reading a text is knowing why it needs to be read
- Elementary reading is sufficient for reading news or entertainment
- Inspectional reading should be considered when reading material contains the learning topic
- Syntopical reading allows for an analytical approach across different texts before an informed opinion on any topic is established
- Different reading levels can be utilised when reading the same text.
Resources[edit | edit source]
- Kleon, A. How to read more. Austin Kleon blog, 2019. Available from https://austinkleon.com/2014/12/29/how-to-read-more/. Austin Kleon blog.
- Mewburn, I. Beware the couch. Reflections on academic reading. The Thesis Whisperer blog, 2019. Available from https://thesiswhisperer.com/2019/05/01/beware-the-couch-reflections-on-academic-reading/
- Rana, Z. You are what you read, 2017. Available from https://qz.com/1104238/you-are-what-you-read
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alsaeedi ZS, Ngadiran NB, Kadir ZA, Hamood Altowayti WA, Al-Rahmi WM. Reading Habits and Attitudes among University Students: A Review. Journal of Techno Social 2021;13(1): 44-53
- ↑ Samsuddin SF, Aspura YI. Understanding the Reading Habit and Reading Attitudes Among Students in Research University Library in Malaysia. Journal of Academic Library Management (AcLiM), 2021;1(1): 12–23.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lidadun BP, Chiuh N. To Use or Not to Use Monroe’s Sequence for Reading? A Preliminary Study. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2021: 11(7): 183– 207.
- ↑ Sun TT. Active versus passive reading: how to read scientific papers? Natl Sci Rev. 2020 Jun 19;7(9):1422-1427.
- ↑ Carey MA, Steiner KL, Petri WA Jr. Ten simple rules for reading a scientific paper. PLoS Comput Biol. 2020 Jul 30;16(7):e1008032.
- ↑ Castles A, Rastle K, Nation K. Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2018;19(1): 5–51
- ↑ Adler, M. (1972). Adler, M. (1972). How to read a book: The classic guide to intelligent reading.
- ↑ How to read and understand a scientific paper: a guide for non-scientists. Available from https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/05/09/how-to-read-and-understand-a-scientific-paper-a-guide-for-non-scientists/ [last access 23.09.2023]
- ↑ Mewburn, I. Reading like a mongrel. Available from https://thesiswhisperer.com/2011/03/08/reading-like-a-mongrel/ [last access 23.09.2023]
- ↑ How to read a paper. Available from https://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-readers/publications/how-read-paper [last access 23.09.2023]
- ↑ Greenhalgh T. How to read a paper. Papers that report diagnostic or screening tests. BMJ. 1997 Aug 30;315(7107):540-3. doi: 10.1136/bmj.315.7107.540. Erratum in: BMJ 1997 Oct 11;315(7113):942. Erratum in: BMJ 1998 Jan 17;316(7126):225.
