How to Evaluate a Research Paper

Last Updated: September 13, 2020 References

While writing a research paper can be tough, it can be even tougher to evaluate the strength of one. Whether you’re giving feedback to a fellow student or learning how to grade, you can judge a paper’s content and formatting to determine its excellence. By looking at the key attributes of successful research papers in the humanities and sciences, you can evaluate a given work work against high standards.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Examining a Humanities Research Paper

1
Look for the thesis statement on page 1 of the paper. Read the first page of the paper, and look for a thesis. The thesis should be 1-2 sentences and contain 2 parts. The first part should outline what the author is going to prove in the paper, and the second should outline how the author is going to make their argument.^{[1]
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- A strong thesis statement might be: “Single-sex education helps girls develop more self-confidence than co-education. Using scholarly research, I will illustrate how young girls develop greater self-confidence in single-sex schools, why their self-confidence becomes more developed in this setting, and what this means for the future of education in America.”
- A poor thesis statement might be: “Single-sex education is a schooling choice that separates the sexes.” This is a description of single-sex education rather than an opinion that can be supported with research.
2
Judge if the thesis is debatable. Determine if a thesis is debatable—and therefore a strong choice—by making up an opposing point of view. If a thesis has two sides or can be seen from multiple perspectives, that is a sign that the thesis statement is complex and a worthy topic for exploration.^{[2]
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- In the example outlined above, one could theoretically create a valid argument for single-sex education negatively impacting the self-esteem of girls. This depth makes the topic worthy of examination.
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3
Assess whether the thesis is original. Do an online search of other scholarly material about the thesis at hand. If the thesis has already been discussed by others many times over, it is probably not very original or exciting. The best research papers make new contributions to the scholarly dialogue about a topic. ^{[3]
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- Ask yourself if the thesis feels obvious. If it does, it is probably not a strong choice.
4
Find at least 3 points supporting the thesis statement. Read the research paper, and look for at least 3 supporting points for the main thesis the author has put forward. Each supporting point should be reinforced by research and have at least one paragraph or set of paragraphs devoted to it.^{[4]
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- The paragraphs should each start with a topic sentence so you feel introduced to the research at hand.
- A typical 5-paragraph essay will have 3 supporting points of 1 paragraph each. Most good research papers are longer than 5 paragraphs, though, and may have multiple paragraphs about just one point of many that support the thesis.
- The more points and correlating research that support the thesis statement, the better.
5
Identify research quotations that reinforce the points. As you read, mark quotations from scholarly research that strengthen each supporting idea. Lots of supporting research helps illustrate that the author’s thesis is true.^{[5]
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- A paper with little supporting research to bolster its points likely falls short of adequately illustrating its thesis.
- Quotations longer than 4 lines should be set off in block format for readability.
6
Identify context and analysis for each research quotation. Look to see if the author has provided context to understand each quotation fully. The author should introduce the text the quote comes from as well as explain how the quotation helps illustrate their point and greater thesis.^{[6]
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- For example, if a thesis statement were that cats are smarter than dogs. A good supporting point might be that cats are better hunters than dogs. The author could introduce a source well in support of this by saying, “In animal expert Linda Smith’s book Cats are King, Smith describes cats’ superior hunting abilities. On page 8 she says, ‘Cats are the most developed hunters in the civilized world.’ Because hunting requires incredible mental focus and skill, this statement supports my view that cats are smarter than dogs.”
- Any quotations that are used to summarize a text are likely not pulling their weight in the research paper. All quotations should serve as direct supports.
7
Find an acknowledgement of potential objections. In either the argument or conclusion of the research paper, look for an acknowledgement—and address—of any potential counterpoints. The author should recognize any bodies of thought that don’t agree with their thesis and provide a reason or two why the counterpoint of view is incorrect or misguided.
- Doing this is a mark of a strong research paper and helps convince the reader that the author’s thesis is good and valid.
8
Look for a conclusion that discusses larger implication of the thesis. Read the conclusion of the essay, and examine whether the thesis is considered in greater terms. Depending upon the subject of the research paper, the author could consider how the thesis affects an academic discipline on a greater level or how it shapes current events.
- A good research paper shows that the thesis is important beyond just the narrow context of its question.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Evaluating a Sciences Research Paper

1
Look for an abstract of 300 words or less. Identify an abstract that describes the purpose of the research being conducted as well as the problem the paper is attempting to resolve. A strong abstract will clearly describe the design of the research—especially if a study was conducted—as well as the results.^{[7]
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- An effective abstract should also include a brief interpretation of those results, which will be explored further later.
- The author should note any overall trends or major revelations discovered in their research.
2
Identify an introduction that provides a guide for the reader. Look for an introduction that summarizes any relevant past research that exists. The author should also explain how their research paper addresses shortcomings in the current research landscape on this topic. If there are broader implications of the research question, the author should acknowledge them.^{[8]
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- The author of a successful scientific research paper should note any boundaries that limit their research.
- For example: If the author conducted a study of pregnant women, but only women over 35 responded to a call for participants, the author should mention it. An element like this could affect the conclusions the author draws from their research.
3
Look for a methodology section that describes the author’s approach. Read for a methodology section that explains how the author obtained and analyzed their results. A good methodology section should easily allow you to determine if the results of the research are valid and reliable based on the methods.^{[9]
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- An effective methodology section should be written in the past tense, as the author has already decided and executed their research.
4
Read for a results section that confirms or rejects the original theory. Look for a results section that states the findings of any research conducted. The author should explain how these results illustrate the validity of or weaken the case for the original question that prompted their research.^{[10]
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- A good results section shouldn’t include raw data from the research; it should explain the findings of the research.
5
Look for a discussion section that illuminates new insights. Read for a discussion section that attempts to place the author’s research within greater preexisting research. A good discussion shouldn’t restate the information in the introduction but reassess how the findings have perhaps changed the essential research question.^{[11]
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- A strong discussion section could present new solutions to the original problem or suggest further areas of study given the results.
- A good discussion moves beyond interpreting findings and offers some subjective analysis.
6
Read for a conclusion that demonstrates the importance of the findings. Look for a conclusion that synthesizes and reiterates the larger significance of this author’s research. A strong conclusion elaborates on the value of any new information the research has brought to light and presents a final mediation on the research question.^{[12]
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- The author might think about the potential real-world consequences of ignoring the research results, for example.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Checking the Formatting of a Research Paper

1
Check for the author’s name, course, instructor name, and date. Look for the important information that helps identify the paper’s owner and intended recipient on page 1. This information helps both the author and instructor keep track of the research paper.^{[13]
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2
Look for an intriguing title on the first page. Check for an engaging title that explains the topic of the research paper. A strong research title should reflect the tone of the paper, serious or casual, and include important thesis keywords.^{[14]
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- For example: “Growing up Stronger: Why Girls’ Schools Create More Confident Women” is more interesting and concise than “Single-Sex Schools are Better than Co-Ed Schools at Developing Self Confidence for Girls.”
3
Verify that the font is standard and readable. Look for a common, easily readable font, such as Cambria or Times New Roman. Wacky fonts can be distracting, and the author may be using them to lengthen the paper to make a page count. The font should typically be 12-point for easy readability.^{[15]
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4
Look for 1 inch (2.5 cm) page margins and double spacing. Confirm that the paper is double-spaced for ease of reading. Margins should also be standardized to 1 inch (2.5 cm). Larger margins may be an attempt to alter the length of the paper.^{[16]
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5
Crosscheck cited sources against the required style guide. Consult the syllabus to ensure that the author has adhered to the required formatting guidelines for cited works. It may help to check the citations one-by-one with a copy of the guide nearby to ensure they are structured properly.^{[17]
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- The author should clearly identify any ideas that are not their own and reference other works that make up the research landscape for context.
- Common style guides for research papers include the APA style guide, the Chicago Manual of Style, the MLA Handbook, and the Turabian citation guide.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What is the importance of evaluating a research paper?

Matthew Snipp, PhD
Research Fellow, U.S. Bureau of the Census
C. Matthew Snipp is the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor of Humanities and Sciences in the Department of Sociology at Stanford University. He is also the Director for the Institute for Research in the Social Science’s Secure Data Center. He has been a Research Fellow at the U.S. Bureau of the Census and a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. He has published 3 books and over 70 articles and book chapters on demography, economic development, poverty and unemployment. He is also currently serving on the National Institute of Child Health and Development’s Population Science Subcommittee. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Matthew Snipp, PhD

Research Fellow, U.S. Bureau of the Census

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

The nature of academic research is that you're always investigating and questioning the nature of things. When you look at a research paper, you're really looking at someone's argument or analysis of the way things are. The evaluation part of this process is where you put some pressure on their ideas to see what sticks. It's totally fine to disagree or find problems in someone's work, and that's kind of the beauty of the process. It's about building on the previous work in a field to try and reach some kind of underlying truth.
Question

Is it okay to disagree with a research paper? Does that make it bad?

Matthew Snipp, PhD
Research Fellow, U.S. Bureau of the Census
C. Matthew Snipp is the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor of Humanities and Sciences in the Department of Sociology at Stanford University. He is also the Director for the Institute for Research in the Social Science’s Secure Data Center. He has been a Research Fellow at the U.S. Bureau of the Census and a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. He has published 3 books and over 70 articles and book chapters on demography, economic development, poverty and unemployment. He is also currently serving on the National Institute of Child Health and Development’s Population Science Subcommittee. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Matthew Snipp, PhD

Research Fellow, U.S. Bureau of the Census

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

No, it's totally fine if you look at a research paper and you aren't completely on board with their conclusion. That doesn't even necessarily mean that their work is wrong or poorly executed. Someone can have great sources, strong data, and a coherent analysis, but that doesn't mean you have to buy everything they're selling.