With the Internet’s ever-expanding repository of information, appraising potential sources has become an increasingly important skill. Evaluating strengths and weaknesses can be a useful tactic to assess potential sources.
The research question defines the population to be investigated, interventions or exposures, and outcomes.
The population is too broad, too narrow, or specific characteristics are too vague such that possible findings will be inconclusive.
The researchers chose to study the data over several years to ensure accuracy of the results for the selected population.
The researchers collected observational data when experimental data could have produced stronger support for their hypothesis.
The study asserts that the members of the sample were chosen randomly, ensuring they are representative of the population.
The study design contains a potential for the above selection bias, but the researchers didn’t address this potential in the study.
The study followed the design and reported this how they followed the design.
The researchers were unable to recruit the desired number of participants, reducing their ability to produce significant findings or answer the research question.
The study accurately reports the statistical significance of the data without suggesting a cause and effect relationship between exposures and outcomes.
The researchers misinterpret a statistically significant correlation between the exposures and outcomes as a cause and effect relationship.
While a party that might want to see specific findings funded the study, the researchers disclose that the party had no input into the study.
The researchers offer no disclosure on what input the funding party did or didn’t have into the study.
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