Back
5 questions to ask when reading about new research in the media
May 20, 2020
Media headlines about scientific research may not be truly representative. And not all scientific studies are equally valid. From whether a study has been peer-reviewed, to causal relationships, here are 5 questions you should keep in mind.
Who doesn’t want to know if drinking that second or third cup of coffee a day will improve your memory, or if sleeping too much increases your risk of a heart attack?
We’re invested in staying healthy and many of us are interested in reading about new research findings to help us make sense of our lifestyle choices.
But not all research is equal, and not every research finding should be interpreted in the same way. Nor do all media headlines reflect what was actually studied or found.
So how can you tell? Keep these five questions in mind when you’re reading media stories about new studies.
Have you read? Researchers have doubled the U.S. COVID-19 death forecast, citing eased restrictions Insights on handling coronavirus from an earlier report on business and outbreaks Winning the Race for Survival: How New Manufacturing Technologies are Driving Business-Model Innovation
1. Has the research been peer reviewed?
Peer review is a process by which a study is checked by experts in the discipline to assess the study’s scientific validity.
This process involves the researcher writing up their study methods and results, and sending this to a journal. The manuscript is then usually sent to two to three experts for peer review.
11Shares
0Comments
1Favorites
4Likes
Say something to impress...
Loading...
Comments
Hot

No content at this moment.

Relevant people
Technology Eye
43583 Followers
technology
Watch on technology.
Related