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7318486 
Journal Article 
Review 
Enhancing credibility of chemical safety studies: emerging consensus on key assessment criteria 
Conrad, JW; Becker, RA 
2011 
Yes 
Environmental Health Perspectives
ISSN: 0091-6765
EISSN: 1552-9924 
119 
6 
757-764 
English 
21163723 
WOS:000291152000017 
OBJECTIVES: We examined the extent to which consensus exists on the criteria that should be used for assessing the credibility of a scientific work, regardless of its funding source, and explored how these criteria might be implemented.

DATA SOURCES: Three publications, all presented at a session of the 2009 annual meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, have proposed a range of criteria for evaluating the credibility of scientific studies. At least two other similar sets of criteria have recently been proposed elsewhere.

DATA EXTRACTION/SYNTHESIS: In this article we review these criteria, highlight the commonalities among them, and integrate them into a list of 10 criteria. We also discuss issues inherent in any attempt to implement the criteria systematically.

CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations by many scientists and policy experts converge on a finite list of criteria for assessing the credibility of a scientific study without regard to funding source. These criteria should be formalized through a consensus process or a governmental initiative that includes discussion and pilot application of a system for reproducibly implementing them. Formal establishment of such a system should enable the debate regarding chemical studies to move beyond funding issues and focus on scientific merit.