What do you do if you want to improve your critical evaluation and interpretation of research findings?

A strategy to facilitate your learning is to divide a page or sheet into three columns: 1. CONCEPTS - If you need to understand something rather than just memorize it, note it here. Example: body's response mechanisms to stress. 2. FACTS - Note here what needs to be memorized. Example: vocabulary and grammar of a language 3. PROCEDURES - Actions that need to be practiced and don't involve much fact or concept. Example: improving language pronunciation, practicing sports, a technique.

familiarize yourself with the research topic and relevant literature to develop a strong foundation of knowledge. Next, critically analyze the research methodology, including sample size, data collection methods, and statistical analysis, to assess the reliability and validity of the findings. Consider the limitations and potential biases of the study, and examine the strength of the evidence presented. Engage in discussions and seek diverse perspectives from experts in the field to gain a broader understanding of the research findings. Additionally, practice synthesizing and summarizing the information to enhance your ability to effectively interpret and communicate research findings.

First of all, you must deeply understand what those results (findings) are about, so learn well about the research topic. Reach out experts, look into books, papers, etc. Likewise, understand the "context" of the results because that is also part of the results and influences them. Was the best methodology/statistics chosen? Try to see if you could have used a better methodology. Finally, if you have doubts, develop the project in as many different ways as you like: use different methods/statistics; re-arranged data sets; outliers or not, etc. Then, present the projects to a panel of experts, and ask them to pick the best one. This should solve any residual doubt.

Talk to another researcher or colleague to read your research. Often, a second opinion or someone with a different view from yours is important. This could bring a lot of interesting insights to your research.