We see reports of scientific studies in the news often. As I read these news reports I wonder, should I believe this report? Should I change my behaviors because of this report? What should a consumer (you and I) believe? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) sheds light on this topic at http://www.cdc.gov/des/consumers/research/understanding_deciding.html.
The next time you read the results of a scientific study, ask yourself the following question: Was this study published in a peer-reviewed journal? Usually the news article will give its source. Being published in a peer-reviewed journal means a group of unbiased peers (comparably educated doctors and researchers) have read the research findings and approved the publication of the research in that magazine. A peer-reviewed journal is the ‘gold standard’ for research publication. Examples of peer-reviewed journals for doctors include JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), The New England Journal of Medicine, and Science. For example: let’s look at a headline in my local newspaper entitled “Potato chips are piling on the pounds, study finds,” This full-page, accurate article gives much valuable information about the research study and can be found at http://www.semissourian.com/story/1739795.html?response=no For fun, I’m calling this research the potato chip study. So the answer to our first question is yes, this study is published in a respected peer-reviewed journal, the New England Journal of Medicine. More information about scientific studies tomorrow.
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