When reading empirical or descriptive journal articles, start by reviewing the abstract. This will give you a sense for what the article is about and if it will work for your research needs. While reading, watch for keywords.
Next, read through the conclusion, which is usually at the end of the article. Then review the "Methods" section and "Findings."
As you are reading, look up any unfamiliar terms. It is also a good idea to annotate the article. Annotations can be made on a physical copy of the work on using a bibliographic management tool such as Mendeley, linked below.