Checklist for the Critical Reader
An approach suggested by Elmes, Kantowitz, Roediger III, (2003) to generate some ideas. As you read the empirical study, start asking
Introduction
- What is the author’s goal; Identify theory? Is there a competing theory?
- What are the hypothesis to be tested? How would I test these hypothesis?
•Method
- How would I do the study? Is my proposed method better that the author’s
- Does the author’s method actually test the hypothesis?
- What are the independent, dependent and control variables? How would I measure these variables? Is there a better way?
- Using the participants, apparatus, materials, and procedures described by the author, what results would I predict for this experiment?
•Results
- Did the author get unexpected results?
- How would I interpret these result? (e.g., applications, implications and/or alternative explanations)
•Discussion
- Does my interpretation or the author’s best represent the data? If I have a better interpretation, how would I test my interpretation?
- What questions are left unanswered?
- What additional studies are left unanswered?
Dominique Treboux, Ph.D. 