If you read through all my articles on how to read research articles, you are now an expert! Here is a summary of the main questions to ask when reading research articles about treatment options. If most of the answers are “no” you’re urged to proceed with caution.
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Was the article published in a peer-reviewed journal?
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In the introduction section, does the author reference articles by others besides him or herself?
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In the Introduction section, are the studies cited written by others up-to-date? Are most of the studies after 1997?
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In the Methods section, were the study participants similar to your child or teen?
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In the Methods section, were a treatment group and a control group clearly defined?
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In the Results section, do the results show what you want your child or teen to achieve?
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In the Discussion section, do the author’s conclusions match the statistical methods used?
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Does the author avoid using cause/effect statements if correlations were used?
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Does the author avoid using cause/effect statement if there was no “control group”?
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In the References section, are most of the articles written after 1997?
If the answers to these questions are “yes” then you should feel comfortable that the research supports the treatment you are seeking for your child.
If you need additional assistance considering treatment options, call 817.421.8780 to set up a consultation.
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(c) 2013, Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.
