Unlike other types of literature you might have read (novels, short stories, etc.) scientific literature articles are NOT written to be read chronologically from beginning to end. Instead, they are divided into sections that allow researchers to easily skim content and focus on the most relevant areas for their research.

Text sources

• Infographic: How to read a scientific paper

• How to Read a Scientific Article

• How to (seriously) read a scientific paper

Videos

• How to Read a Scientific Article (KU LIbraries)
• How I Read a Paper!

While there is disagreement on which sections are most important (and this might change as you develop expertise in your area, understanding more about the function of each section will make you a more effective reader.

Title & Abstract

Provides a summary of the article contents that can help you determine if the article is relevant for your research. 

Introduction

Provides an explanation to the purpose of the article, background information on the topic, and the authors' research question or hypothesis which can help you identify what the author expected to find or understand.

Method

Guides the reader through the approach taken with the experiment or research. This section answers why the researcher chose specific procedures and justifies the design of the experiment.

Results

Lists the findings from the experiment. It is important that the results section simply states the outcome of the experiment or research, without interpretation.

Discussion

Summarizes the finding from the experiment or research and highlights the interpretation from the data, new discoveries, or other relevant information that have come from the article. The author may also propose new research or insights into the problem.

Conclusion

Points out the important findings from the experiment or research.

General Tips

• Fully comprehending a scientific article will most likely take more than one read. Don't be discouraged if you don't understand everything the first time, reading scientific papers is a skill that is developed with practice. 
• Always read the tables, charts, and figures. These will give a visual clue to the methods and results sections of the paper and help you to understand the data. The author put these in the paper for a reason, don't dismiss their importance. 
• Don't be afraid to ask questions or look up definitions. If you do not understand a term or concept, do not be afraid to ask for help or look up an explanation. 

from: https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/c.php?g=992698&p=7182643