Research Article Evaluation Guidelines

One of the research article's most important features is the source of information used to write it. To evaluate this type of article, you must determine if the author used sources that are credible and trustworthy. One system for distinguishing high-quality sources from poor sources is McGraw-Hill's CARS (Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support) checklist. Whether you are writing your own paper or assessing the quality of someone else's, this model helps you to evaluate the strength of the supporting information.

Credibility

The goal in assessing the credibility of the research paper is to determine if the author has used authoritative sources. An authoritative source is one that offers good evidence that the reader can trust. The source should be trustworthy and provide the author's credentials. The best source is one that comes from a respected authority or organization. When using websites for information, the most credible research comes from a .org, .edu, or .gov website. Information from a .com site may sound authoritative but may not necessarily be the most trustworthy or credible source because of potential commercial bias.

Accuracy

The research article should contain up-to-date and detailed information. A high-quality source would consist of information that is factual and comprehensive in scope. The goal of evaluating accuracy is to determine if the information is still correct in today's time. If the information provided was changed or altered in the last 5 or 50 years, then that information does not pass the accuracy test of evaluation.

Reasonableness

A research paper should be evaluated for reasonableness. The goal is to use a source of reference that engages the subject in a thoughtful and reasonable manner. The author or authors of the information should be fair and objective. The information will have no conflict of interest or contain faulty logic and half-truths.

Support

When evaluating a research paper, one should take into consideration whether the paper offers enough convincing support. Each point of support should always be substantiated by at least two other sources, which means that every research article should contain a minimum of three support points but, ideally, six or more. A good test of evaluation is to consider both sides of any issue.

References

A list of references at the end of a research paper is essential for the reader to do further research. Readers of this type of article expect authors to use valid sources that can be verified. Without a list of references, the reader has no way to determine the credibility of the article. The reference section can be in the form of a works cited page or listed as a bibliography at the end of the article. It can also include information about the author's credentials.

References

• Real Writing with Readings; Susan Anker; 2007
• Student Success, The CARS Checklist

Resources

• The CARS Checklist
• Evaluating Information Found on the Internet
• Assessing Source Quality from Penn State

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