Research Guides
How to find, read and evaluate psychological and social research — so you can think more clearly about the evidence behind the claims you encounter every day.
We live in an age of information overload. Studies are cited in headlines, theories are quoted on social media, and statistics are used to support almost any argument. Knowing how to evaluate research is one of the most valuable skills you can develop — not just as a reader of this blog, but as a critical thinker navigating modern life.
How to Find Reliable Research
Not all sources are equal. Here are the most reliable places to find psychological and social science research:
PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
A free database of biomedical and psychological research maintained by the US National Library of Medicine. Excellent for health and psychology studies.
Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)
A broad academic search engine covering psychology, sociology, education and more. Many papers are available for free.
PsycINFO
The American Psychological Association’s database of psychological literature. Available through most university libraries.
ResearchGate (researchgate.net)
A platform where researchers share their work directly. Many papers that are behind paywalls elsewhere are available here for free.
The Cochrane Library (cochranelibrary.com)
Specialises in systematic reviews and meta-analyses — the gold standard of evidence in health and psychology research.
How to Read a Research Paper
Research papers can feel intimidating at first. Here is a simple structure to follow:
1. Start with the Abstract
The abstract is a short summary at the beginning of every paper. Read this first to understand what the study is about and what it found.
2. Read the Introduction
This explains why the study was conducted and what existing research says about the topic.
3. Check the Method
How was the study conducted? How many participants were there? Was it a randomised controlled trial, a survey, an observational study? The method tells you how much weight to give the findings.
4. Look at the Results
What did the study actually find? Look for effect sizes not just whether something was statistically significant.
5. Read the Discussion
This is where the researchers interpret their findings, acknowledge limitations and suggest future research. Limitations are important — every study has them.
6. Check the References
Are the researchers citing credible, peer reviewed sources?
How to Evaluate a Study
Before accepting any research finding, ask these questions:
- Sample size — Was the study conducted on enough participants to be meaningful? A study of 20 university students tells us less than a study of 2,000 people across different demographics.
- Replication — Has the finding been replicated by other researchers? A single study is rarely enough to draw firm conclusions.
- Peer review — Was the paper published in a peer reviewed journal? This means other experts reviewed it before publication.
- Conflict of interest — Who funded the research? Industry funded studies sometimes show results that favour the funder.
- Correlation vs causation — Just because two things are associated does not mean one causes the other.
- Generalisability — Can the findings be applied to the broader population, or only to the specific group studied?
Understanding Different Types of Research
Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT)
Participants are randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group. Considered the gold standard for establishing cause and effect.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Combines the results of multiple studies on the same topic to reach more reliable conclusions. The strongest form of evidence available.
Longitudinal Study
Follows the same group of participants over a long period of time. Useful for understanding how things change and develop.
Cross-Sectional Study
Looks at a group of people at one point in time. Good for identifying patterns but cannot establish cause and effect.
Qualitative Research
Explores experiences, meanings and perspectives through interviews, focus groups or observations. Provides depth rather than generalisable statistics.
A Note on Media Reporting of Research
Headlines often distort research findings. Common problems include:
- Reporting correlation as causation
- Overgeneralising from small or unrepresentative samples
- Ignoring effect sizes and focusing only on statistical significance
- Cherry picking studies that support a particular narrative
When you see a health or psychology claim in the news, always ask: what was the actual study, how was it conducted, and what did it really find?
This guide will be updated regularly. If you have questions about evaluating research or finding sources, get in touch via our Contact page.