How to Determine the Validity of a Research Article
When assessing a research article, one of the most important concerns is its validity. To properly evaluate the information provided, the reader must be able to determine if it is accurate and relevant to the topic at hand. Determining the validity of an article can help the reader better determine how to use the article and how much merit to give the information.
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Instructions
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Determining the Validity of a Research Article
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Consider the source of the research article. If it is published in a book or magazine it is much more likely to be valid than if it is published online. When determining the validity of online articles, carefully consider the page on which they are published. A government site with the web address ending in ".gov" is very reliable, while a ".com" is significantly less so. A URL ending with ".edu" is normally from an educational institution, but individuals who are affiliated with the college or university can use their ".edu" e-mail address, so beware of the source. Don't let a ".org" web site fool you. Although this is often associated with reliable organizations, you should first research the organization before trusting the information. Anyone can purchase a ".org" web address, regardless of whether or not they have a valid organization.
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Study the methods used to gather the information that is being presented. If the article is covering an experiment, make sure that you understand how the experiment was performed. You can then determine the validity of its results. For a study to have internal validity, it must first demonstrate that it is indeed addressing the proposed question. Further, for a study to have external validity it must be able to prove that the results will hold steady across multiple situations or populations.
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Compare the research article to other similar studies. Holding the information up against previously completed studies as well as other, similar studies performed at the same time can help you determine the validity of the overall information as well as of the specific article. If you find unexplained gaps in the information present, you might conclude that the research is not valid.
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Research the author of the article as well as the researchers involved in gathering the information. A well known expert in the field is likely to present valid findings, while a young college student may have greater flaws in their methodology.
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Tips & Warnings
There is no easy, foolproof way to determine validity so you should use all of your reasoning skills and resources when dealing with a suspect article.
Do not rely on just one article, but research multiple articles on the same topic. If they agree with each other, you can feel fairly confident that the information presented is complete and accurate. If one article raises your suspicions, discard it in favor of the ones that agree with each other.
