A Framework for Assessing the Trustworthiness of Research Findings

Abstract

Within the research community, the question “what makes research findings trustworthy?” will elicit different answers depending on the emphasis on research integrity and ethics, research methods, transparency, inclusion, assessment and peer review, or scholarly communication. Each provides partial insight. We introduce a systems framework for conceptualizing trustworthiness of research findings to assess whether the research is accountable, evaluable, well-formulated, has been evaluated, controls for bias, reduces error, and well-calibrated with the claims matching the evidence. Each of these components has potential indicators of trustworthiness representing the research itself, the researchers conducting and evaluating the research, and the organizations supporting the research. The framework attempts to be applicable across methods, approaches, and epistemologies, but translation of principles into concrete, generalizable indicators is challenging. Developing valid, scalable indicators will improve research assessment, counter faulty trustworthiness heuristics, reduce misinformation, and ultimately foster earned trust in research.

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