Back when I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed undergrad, my idea of “reading a scientific paper” involved printing out a hard copy, grabbing a highlighter, and scribbling all over the pages as I read it from start to finish.
I’d get sidetracked by unfamiliar terms, bogged down in the background, and glazed over by the graphs. By the time I made it to the conclusion (if I even got that far), I’d be drowning in details, the big picture completely obscured.
There had to be a better way.
How to extract key information from academic writing faster
As a busy academic, keeping up with the deluge of new research in your field can feel impossible. One simple technique I’ve used to help filter papers quickly is the “Reverse CIA Method.”
What is the Reverse CIA Method?
It’s a strategic way to read academic papers by focusing on three key sections in a specific order:
This reverse (CIA -> AIC) order differs from the typical start-to-finish reading approach. By reading the Abstract, then the Introduction, and then the Conclusion first, you can rapidly judge a paper’s relevance before investing in a full read-through.
How to apply the reverse CIA method
The benefits of the Reverse CIA approach
Tips
With the Reverse CIA Method in your toolkit, you can tame the never-ending wave of new research, maintain your sanity, and keep your work moving forward efficiently. Take control of your reading process and give this technique a try.