A headline can make a study seem more decisive than its findings. Keep the original research beside you as you work through these questions.
Find the actual claim
- What question did the researchers investigate?
- What outcome did they measure?
- Does the headline describe the same question and outcome?
Understand the setting
- Who participated, and how were they selected?
- What comparison was made?
- How long did the activity or intervention last?
- How similar is the setting to your own?
Look for limits
- What limitations do the authors identify?
- What other explanations could fit the result?
- Are uncertainties and missing data discussed?
- Can you trace the claim to the study itself?
Decide what follows
Write two sentences: one describing what the study supports, and another describing what it does not establish. Distinguish an interesting finding from a decision that is ready to apply in your own setting.