35 Questions to Ask When Reviewing a Research Article

If you’re a student or researcher, you know that reviewing journal articles is an essential part of your field. These articles are the building blocks for new knowledge and provide deep insight into certain topics.

But not all research articles are created equal! To ensure you get the most out of each article, it’s important to critically review each article. 

That’s why we’ve compiled this list of questions you should ask yourself when reviewing a research article. Taking the time to ask and answer these questions will help you better assess the quality and usefulness of each article. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

35 Questions you can ask when reviewing a research article:

  1. What is the research question? 
  2. What are the study’s objectives? 
  3. What are the hypotheses?
  4. Who are the participants/subjects?
  5. What is the sample size and population?
  6. What statistical analyses were used?
  7. What are the independent and dependent variables?
  8. What are the study’s limitations?
  9. What are the inclusion and exclusion criteria?
  10. Does the research design address the objectives? 
  11. Was the research ethical? 
  12. What are the ethical considerations of the study?
  13. Are the results valid and reliable? 
  14. What are the magnitude and direction of the results? 
  15. How do the results add to our knowledge? 
  16. Are there potential sources of bias? 
  17. Do the conclusions make sense? 
  18. How was the data collected?
  19. How was the data analyzed?
  20. What other studies should be done? 
  21. What are the recommendations for future research?
  22. How does this study add to our current knowledge base? 
  23. How can this research be applied in practice? 
  24. Do I have any personal biases that could affect my interpretation of this article? 
  25. Are the results of the study statistically significant?
  26. What do the results of the study mean?
  27. How do the results of the study compare to other studies in the literature?
  28. Are there any limitations to the study that should be considered?
  29. Are there any unanticipated outcomes or side effects?
  30. What is the intervention or exposure being studied?
  31. What do the results mean in relation to the research question?
  32. Are the conclusions supported by the data?
  33. How could this study be improved?
  34. How can the results be generalized to other populations?
  35. What are the practical applications of the findings?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a review article and a research article?

A research article is a scholarly piece of writing that presents original research findings. It usually contains a detailed account of the methods used to conduct the research, the results, and a discussion of their implications.

Review articles, on the other hand, are not concerned with presenting original research, but rather with summarizing and critically assessing the existing literature on a particular topic. They may incorporate both primary and secondary sources, but they do not present new data.

How would I know whether your paper is valuable enough to be published in esteemed research journals?

When considering whether or not to submit a paper for publication in a research journal, the most important factor is the validity and significance of the research findings.

The journal should be esteemed, meaning it must have a good reputation in the academic community and be respected. The paper must be well-written and organized, and the research must be conducted using sound methodology.

The research findings should be presented clearly and concisely, and the implications of the findings should be discussed. If all of these criteria are met, the paper will likely be considered for publication in a research journal.

What are the characteristics of good research?

Good research is characterized by its ability to answer questions and solve problems. It is conducted systematically and uses reliable methods and sources of information. Good research is also unbiased and objective and considers all available evidence. Finally, it is communicated effectively so that others can understand the findings and use them to make informed decisions.

Conclusion

Reviewing journal articles is essential for students and researchers in any field, as they provide detailed insight into specific topics and serve as building blocks for new knowledge. However, it’s important that you take the time to critically review each article to ensure that you’re getting the most out of it.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

As you found this post useful...

Share it on social media!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?