How to read an academic paper: Homework

Congrats! You attended the “how to read an academic paper” session lead by Dr. Jared Watson. The good news is, you have homework. The bad news is, you have homework (which is about as bad a news as you will get if you choose the academic life, which if you put it into perspective, is incredibly good news).

The task?

Read these papers (and more) over the summer. Take notes. What did you learn? What did you agree with? What did you disagree with? What questions did this research spur?

Remember to read in the following order: First read the abstract, then read the intro, then go to the general discussion, then read the middle of the paper.

If there is a conceptual model, try to understand what the boxes and arrows are trying to say.

Then you will talk about these papers to somebody. Anybody. Tell your kids what you learned. Chat up your spouse about the findings. Bother your Uber driver with new knowledge.

If you can find enjoyment in these two tasks, then you might really enjoy this life.

Papers*

Mazzocco, Philip J., Derek D. Rucker, Adam D. Galinsky, and Eric T. Anderson. “Direct and vicarious…