Sample Review Checklist

Use the following questions to guide the analysis and critique of your sample review. You do not have to answer all these questions but you should cover a substantial portion.

General Questions

1. Is the study or book relevant and important to your topic?
2. Is the study or book useful and original?
3. Does it add to your knowledge of the topic?
4. Does the book/article participate in a wider research or theoretical tradition?
5. Does the discussion show an awareness of limitations (theoretical, empirical, methodological, etc.) of the work? Are limitations, problems, or difficulties acknowledged?
6. Are the conclusions justified by the results/arguments presented?

Questions for Theoretical Papers

1. How would you identify the theoretical position presented in the book or article?
2. Does the article or book make a significant theoretical contribution?
3. Does the article criticize, revise, or break away from a previous theoretical tradition?
4. Is the article an alternative to a well known theoretical canon?
5. Is the article intelligible or is it written in an obtuse and difficult to understand fashion?
6. How does the article contribute to the development of your own ideas on the topic?

Questions for Empirical Papers

1. Was the design of the study appropriate (i.e., does it help answer the questions posed in the introduction?)
2. Is their a reasonable connection between hypothesis and the method chosen to evaluate the hypothesis?
3. Does the study use appropriate research instruments (statistical methods, experimental methods, etc.) and have the measures/methods been validated previously?
4. Is the population sensible and is the sample adequate?
5. Are tables and figures clear?
6. Have statistical tests been applied appropriately?
7. Where statistically significant differences are found, are they sufficient to prove or disprove the author’s arguments and hypothesis
8. Are interpretations of the data sensible and valid.

These question are offered as suggestions only. You may find it useful to add your own evaluative criteria to the mix.