Report by Greg Morling
This Research Corner piece is linked to the article in this edition of
Mostly Massage Magazine; Myofascial therapy by John Kron found on page 10. There are several elements to a professional article that give it credibility and validity.
A literature review of a problem to be researched or written about is a very important part of the research process. If we are going to make an accurate and informed decision about the worth of an article then the elements listed below are presented as a worthy check list.
Peer review
Has the research article you are reading been reviewed and checked for accuracy by practitioners who work in the same discipline? The greater number of respected practitioners who have read and ok’d the article, the more credibility the article or research piece has. There was one well-credentialed peer reviewer invited to check the Myofascial therapy article.
Author’s credentials
This has two parts; is the author of the article well known in his/her field as an authority you can trust?, and two, if a journalist has compiled the piece, does he or she consult referenced articles and/or respected people in their field for comment and evaluation? John Kron consulted several respected practioners and research articles for this review. There is also a very clear and well referenced list of studies on MFT in his article.
Referencing
There are several referencing styles that are acceptable. Footnote and Endnote style are common and use small numbers that relate to references at the bottom of the page or at the end of the document. In-text citations are also commonly used. There is not the scope to expand on this, but it is important to mention that some major Universities do not accept web referencing as valid anymore, placing far more credibility on information taken from peer-reviewed research papers and well referenced articles. The article in question is well referenced and is supported by a strong and long list of credible references.
There are many elements that make up a well-written piece and there are even more factors that can make it interesting or boring to read. I hope John Kron’s article meets with your approval on both counts.