What is the best way for a school social worker to determine whether online ADHD information is reliable?

• A. Ask colleagues if they have heard of the author.
• B. Read the article and use personal judgement to determine whether the suggestions make sense.
• C. Conduct research on the Internet or at a library to determine whether research has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
• D. Use a search engine to find out if the author has a degree in a relevant discipline.

Answer: (C)

The main concept here is assessing online ADHD information by checking whether it’s supported by peer-reviewed research. When material has appeared in a peer-reviewed journal, it has undergone scrutiny by experts in the field, who evaluate the study design, methods, data, and conclusions before it’s published. This process helps ensure the information is evidence-based, credible, and up-to-date, which is crucial for making informed decisions in school settings.

Relying on whether the author is known or who wrote the piece is not enough, because reputation doesn’t guarantee that the specific claims are supported by solid data. Simply reading and applying material based on personal judgment can lead to unverified or biased conclusions. And checking if the author has a degree might tell you something about credentials, but it doesn’t guarantee that the content is grounded in rigorous evidence or that it has been vetted by the scientific community. By contrast, confirming that the information is published in a peer-reviewed journal provides a robust signal of reliability, since the claims have faced critical evaluation by other experts and are backed by systematic methods and data.

In practice, look for references to peer-reviewed studies, systematic reviews, or established guidelines from reputable professional organizations. If the ADHD information is tied to such sources, you can feel more confident in applying it to practice.