Most academic (also called scholarly, peer-reviewed, or refereed) journal articles follow a similar structure, especially those based on original research. Understanding this structure can help you quickly identify key information:

• Abstract – A short summary of the article, including the purpose, methods, main findings, and conclusions. Reading this first can help you decide if the article is relevant to your topic.
• Introduction – Explains the topic or problem the authors are addressing and why it matters.
• Literature Review – Summarizes past research and key findings related to the topic. This shows what is already known and what gaps the current study might fill.
• Study Description – Outlines the research question, hypothesis, or main objective of the study.
• Methods & Data – Describes how the study was conducted and how the data was collected and analyzed. This section allows others to assess or replicate the study.
• Results & Discussion – Presents the findings and discusses what they mean and why they matter.
• Limitations & Future Research – Notes any weaknesses in the study and suggests areas for further investigation.

Familiarity with these sections makes it easier to navigate academic articles and use them effectively in your own research.