Practical reading support

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Reading a large psychology textbook full of details may not be easy, or enjoyable. This section explores how you can ease the challenge!

What to look for in a psychology text

Most psychology course leaders recommend two or three textbooks for learners' use. But how well are they actually used? The following points will provide you with a forum for considering ways in which you can really be encouraged to get to know your recommended texts.

• An accessible, clear written style - not too familiar, not too stuffy.
• A balance between detail and comprehensibility.
• A balance between 'classic' studies and recent evidence.
• Clear layout, using pictures intelligently.
• A global perspective, showing cultural and historical awareness.
• An awareness of applied research.
• Things to make and do? Maybe, maybe not.

Here's some practical support to help you develop your reading habits. They include strategies to help you keep up with the reading demands of the course.  

1. Using reading lists effectively 

Students may need guidance about how much of a reading list is meant to be covered, as well as on how to obtain items on the list.

2. Selective reading  

Effective academic reading involves using books in a different way from the way, say, a novel would be read. Rather than ploughing from cover to cover it's important to extract the relevant information in as little time as possible. This means using the index, scanning pages, chapter headings and so on. Also, it may help to use word limits for assignments to guide the amount of reading that's necessary - a lot of time can be saved by planning to read the appropriate amount. Too often students are put off by the sheer choice of books available, seemingly covering the same material. Rather than reading the lot it's useful to develop skills for selecting the most user-friendly, up to date and relevant texts This needs guidance, time and practice.

3. Active reading 

In academic circles reading becomes something you do with equipment - pens, paper, highlighter and so on. Again, students need time and guidance to develop note-taking and information gathering skills necessary for effective study. Another aspect of active reading is questioning the text. To give purpose and structure to reading it's a good idea to keep key questions in mind whilst reading.

4. The art of summarising

Reading for academic study requires students to take a piece of text and summarise the main points. This is a skill which requires real engagement, confidence and practice. It may be useful for students to ask themselves - can I sum up what I've just read in 20 words?

5. Personalised reading

It may help to develop a set of symbols, colour-codes or card indexed aids to help record which sections of text have been covered and to help organise notes into a plan for an assignment. It takes students a while to develop the confidence and techniques necessary for this personalised approach.

6. Critical reading

Since academic reading generally culminates in discussion, it's important for students to develop strategies for forming opinions about texts. Such evaluation skills are vital to success in psychology, so students need to overcome their feeling of who am I to criticize? 

For more advice, see critical and analytical thinking and the free audio download on critical analysis.

7. The reading environment

Where we read has a key influence upon how effectively we read. Academic reading should be done in a space which is tailored to the individual needs of the student. Some people prefer absolute silence, others prefer background noise and activity. Others need to snack, or to be in a relaxed posture. Above all, the effective reader has to be sensitive to the importance of their environment, as well as to their own preferred learning style. In terms of the social environment, informal study groups (organised by students) can help them organise their reading and develop their ideas about texts.

8. More and more reading 

Once enrolled it's important to find extra time and opportunity for reading. This is a real challenge for psychology A-level/access students and can make the difference between effective and ineffective study. Students can really benefit from advice on organising reading time, setting reading targets and reflecting on how well they're doing.

9. Dealing with hard, technical bits

Academic reading involves wading though text which, in other circumstances, might be tossed aside. One aspect of psychology texts which can be daunting is technical language. Jargon enables writers to summarise complex information and to explain specialised concepts. New students need guidance to understand the uses and benefits of jargon, and to gain skills necessary for using it themselves.

10. Speed reading 

Academic reading may require the student to vary his/her reading speed to suit the task in hand. For example, if s/he's looking for reference to a specific topic it might be useful to develop the skill of 'skimming', which might be a new venture for anyone who's experience is limited to leisure reading.

For more advice, see reading strategies.

This content has been written by Andrew Stevenson, author of Studying Psychology.