NEUR 4044: Evaluating Information

Research resources and guidance for topics and assignments in NEUR 4044 - senior seminar - stress and the brain

Basic Evaluation Criteria

As you decide which resources to include in your research, here are some things to think about:

Authority:  Who wrote it?  What sort of expertise do they have in this area?

Coverage:  Is it relevant to your topic?  

Objectivity:  Is there any bias?  If so, how much?

Accuracy:  Is the information correct?  Is it in alignment with other research findings or articles?  

Currency:  When was your resource produced?  Does this matter for your topic?  

How to Read and Understand a Scientific Paper

How to read and understand a scientific paper,” by Jennifer Raff, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas at Lawrence. This post was published August 25, 2013 on her blog titled Violent Metaphors: Thoughts from the Intersection of Science, Pseudoscience, and Conflict."

Journals and Articles - Indicators of Reliability

So you've found a journal article that looks trustworthy--where can you find information that will help you apply the basic evaluation criteria?