How do you tell a trustworthy study from a weak one when you are not an expert in the field?

I look for transparent preregistration and independent replication to ensure the findings truly benefit the collective good. Checking for non-commercial funding sources prevents greenwashing, while transparent, open-access data proves the researchers respect their audience and the environment.

I focus on sample size robustness, funding disclosures to catch conflicts of interest, and the journal's peer-review integrity. A high impact factor can be misleading, so I prioritize rigorous methodology and proven replicability over prestigious brand names.