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Developing Literature Searching and Evaluation Skills for ERM Module (HWLS): Evaluating Research Sources

Evaluating and Critical Appraisal

Once you have found your pieces of evidence, you will need to evaluate and critically appraise them. The resources in this tab will introduce you to some of the methods and tools you can use to do this effectively.

It's really important to thoroughly investigate your evidence and the methods they use to collect and analyse the data and information they contain. The books on your reading list can help you with some of this, but there are also a wealth of tools out there you can use.

As with everything, the ones you decide to use will be dependent on the type of research method your evidence has, and can be negotiated also with your marker.                                                                                         

Critical appraisal tools

Critical Appraisal

There are many different critical appraisal tools you can use. Here are a few of the most commonly used:

 

There are others that you can use, for instance the Hawker method below:

 

You may also be given guidance by your tutors on which method to use. Check your module documents or ask your tutor!

 

Referencing Your Critical Appraisal Tool

When citing and referencing a critical appraisal tool, use the same format as for a website. For example: 

Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. (2020).  CASP Checklist*. Retrieved from: https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/

*reference the checklist you have used, i.e. CASP Randomised Control Trial Checklist.

Evaluating Research Sources

There are tools that can help you to evaluate and appraise the research that you find. Many of the professional bodies provide training and support for evaluating research. Below are a few of the most useful ones:

BMJ Best Practice - Appraise the Evidence - sign up for a free account to access BMJ Best Practice

Elearning for Health have a lot of learning modules on how to conduct and evaluate research.

Understanding Health Research some good information on evaluating research studies.

 

Useful reading on appraising evidence:

Understanding Research Methods - link to information on research methods

Hierarchy of Evidence Within the Medical Literature

New Evidence Pyramid

Reading List for ERM

Covidence

Covidence is an online software tool that supports the systematic review process and is provided by the Library for SHU staff and students.  

It is most suitable for research staff and doctoral students conducting systematic reviews, but can also be useful to anyone conducting a review in a similar systematic way.  You will need a SHU email address to sign up to use Covidence.

It can be used to:

  • import references
  • deduplicate references (always review the duplicates found by the system in case they have been incorrectly identified as duplicates)
  • screen references (both title/abstract and full-text)
  • create and populate data extraction forms and populate risk of bias tables

For more information on how to use Covidence at Sheffield Hallam, including how to register for an account, see our guide here:

Covidence information for Sheffield Hallam University

Where Can I Get Help?

There is lots more help in this folder in your module Blackboard site. This folder contains a comprehensive set of resources to help you with starting your search for your papers. 

You can get help with quick questions using Library chat, or you can get in touch with the Library through the student portal or Hallam Help points. Here are some useful help links:

  • Get to grips with APA referencing and using our software, RefWorks. Referencing and RefWorks workshops: Library Referencing Guide
  • Got a quick query? Get in touch 24/7/365 using Library Chat.
  • Need more detailed or specialist help (such as questions about using Library resources / specialist resources)? Contact Hallam Help - this will get your enquiry to the most appropriate team.