Library: Archaeoastronomy: Evaluating Scientific Literature

Ask a Librarian

Use this to chat with a librarian during normal service hours. If a librarian isn't currently available, we invite you to email us at wccref@hawaii.edu

Contact Us

Help Desk 808-235-7338
Circulation Desk 808-235-7436

Email wccref@hawaii.edu

WCC Library Staff Directory

Visit us in Hale Laʻakea

Pure Fallacy

XKCD #925: Cell Phones

View explanation and transcript. © Bill Munroe

Evaluation of Scientific Publications – A Series from Deutsches Arzteblatt International

Understanding Health Research

Understanding Health Research: A Tool for Making Sense of Health Studies
"This tool will guide you through a series of questions to help you to review and interpret a published health research paper... [and] guidance on how to work out whether the research findings apply to you or not." From the MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, Univ. of Glasgow.
How to Read a Scientific Study | Examine.com
A clear discussion of why and how to assess studies for credibility, applicability, and clinical relevance.
How to Review a Case Report
"Though case reports remain lowest in the hierarchy of evidence, with meta-analysis representing the highest level, they nevertheless constitute important information with regard to rare events and may be considered as anecdotal evidence. Case reports may stimulate the generation of new hypotheses, and thus may support the emergence of new research."
P-Value 101 | Examine
In evaluating studies, it's helpful to understand the p-value. This explains the p-value's purpose and how to interpret the p-values you see in studies.

On Statistics

Damned Lies and Statistics, updated ed. by Joel Best
Call Number: READ ONLINE

A "handbook for spotting bad statistics and learning to think critically about these influential numbers."
Critical Statistics:Seeing Beyond the Headlines by Robert de Vries
Call Number: MAIN HA29 .D3819 2019

ISBN: 9781137609793
Standard Deviations: flawed assumptions, tortured data, and other ways to lie with statistics by Gary Smith
Call Number: MAIN QA279 .S638 2014

ISBN: 9781468309201

The author shows various ways that people use statistics o back up their own crackpot theories. Drawing on breakthrough research in behavioral economics, this book aims to demystify the science behind statistics and to make it easy to spot fraud.
Statistics for Veterinary and Animal Science, 3rd ed. by Aviva Petrie; Paul Watson
Call Number: READ ONLINE

ISBN: 9780470670750

Publication Date: 2013

See Chapter 16 on Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine.
A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age: Scientific Habits of Mind by David J. Helfand
Call Number: MAIN Q172.5.E77 H45 2016
READ ONLINE

ISBN: 9780231541022

A search engine can't tell the difference between information and misinformation. By cultivating scientific habits of mind, you can. The book promises to "dissolve your fear of numbers, demystify graphs, and elucidate the key concepts of probability, all while celebrating the precise use of language and logic."

Evaluation Worksheets

CEBM Systematic Review Critical Appraisal Sheet
A worksheet to help you analyse review studies. From the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford University.
CEBM Therapy / RCT Critical Appraisal Sheet (.doc)
A worksheet to help you analyze random control trial articles. From the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford University.
DISCERN Treatment
A brief questionnaire providing a valid and reliable way of assessing the quality of written information on treatment choices for a health problem.
DISCERN Genetics
A questionnaire that provides a reliable way of assessing the quality of information on genetic testing and screening.