Critically Review an Article

Overview

Critically evaluate the article

- Rationale/Objectives (Any novelty)

- Methodology used

- Any flaws and errors in experimental design/methodology

- Main finding

- Significance of findings

- Is the conclusion supported by the experimental results

Guidelines to Critically Review an Article

Abstract

• Does the abstract accurately describe the objectives and main results obtained?
• Does the abstract include information that cannot be substantiated by the results obtained?Keywords

Are the keywords appropriate? If not, what change would you suggest?

Introduction

• What was the objective of the study?
• Was the background information adequate to understand the aims of the study?
• On what prior observations was the research based on? What was and was not known at the time of the research?
• Methods

• What methods were used to accomplish this purpose? Are the methods valid for studying the problem?
• Check the methods for flaws. Is the experimental design sound? Is the sample selection adequate?
• Were the methods described in sufficient detail for others to repeat or extend the study?
• If standard methods were used, were adequate references given?
• If methods were modified, were the modifications described carefully?
• Have the authors indicated the reasons why particular procedures were used?
• Have the author specified the statistical procedures used? Are the statistical methods used appropriate?

Results

• What were the main findings of the study? Do the results obtained make sense?
• Did the results obtained answered the objectives stated in the introduction?
• Carefully examine the data presented in the tables and diagrams. Does the title or legend accurately describe the content.
• Are there discrepancies between the results in the text and those in the figures?

• Discussion
• Does the discussion address the objectives and hypothesis?
• Does the interpretation arise logically from the data or is it too far-fetched?
• If the objectives were not met, do the authors have any explanation?
• Did the research discover a new finding or created a new research technique?
• Significance of the work? Did the author mention wider implications of the findings?
• Have the flaws or shortcomings of the research been addressed?
• Did the reported observations or interpretations support or refute observations or interpretations made by other researchers?
• Did the author mention about any future research? Are there other research possibilities as suggested.

• Conclusion
• What was the conclusion of this research article?

• Is the conclusion consistent with the study results?
• References
• Did the authors cite appropriate papers for comments made? Are the references relevant and correctly formatted?
• Did the authors cite their own publications needlessly?

• Acknowledgments
• Could the source of the research funding have influenced the research topic or conclusions?