ARTICLEREVIEWGUIDLINE

Brief Article Review Guideline

1. Citation: Include full title, all authors (last name, initials), full journal title, year, volume
number, and page numbers.
2. Summary: Present summary of essential contents and main ideas
3. Study purpose: Was the purpose and/or research question stated clearly? A clear
statement of purpose or research questions helps you determine if the topic is important,
relevant, and of interest to you.
 Does the author clearly define a research problem or topic?
 Is its significance explained? Are core issues or research variables identified?
 Is specialized terminology usefully defined?
4. Was relevant background literature reviewed? A review of the literature should be
included in an article describing research to provide some background to the study.
 Does the author provide an adequate literature review?
 Does it discuss current research on the problem, and help to situate the author’s
own research?
 Are the research objectives clearly stated? Are hypotheses or specific research
questions identified?
5. Methodology
 Does the author clearly identify the research methodology and any associated
limitations of the research design?
 Are participants described, including the method of sample selection if
appropriate?
 Are instruments adequately described, including issues of appropriateness,
validity and reliability?
 Do any evident biases or ethical considerations arise in relation to the
methodology?
 Are the methods for measuring results clearly explained and appropriate?
6. Results
 What are the author's major findings and conclusions? Have these been supported
by the author's analyses, arguments, findings or evidence? Has the author
overlooked anything?
7. Discussion
 Do the research results validate the author’s conclusions and/or recommendations?
8. References
 Are references given (footnotes or bibliography)? What is the size of the reference
section? Are the references recent, important? How are the references used: for
support, rebuttal, etc.?
9. Suggestion for future research: Does the author suggest areas for further research or
discussion?
10. Synthesis with class material: how the article is related to the course contents?