Consider these questions as you read a research report:

• Who is the intended audience (e.g., other scientists, general public)?
• Is the report clearly written? Does the researcher present a logical story about the importance of his/her research findings?
• Has the research undergone peer review? (Sometimes this may be hard to know; generally, research findings are more acceptable if presented in a reputable, scientific journal rather than at a conference or simply in the media.)