Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConsider the SourceBe Skeptical of Sensational or Shocking ClaimsEvaluate the Research MethodsRemember That Anecdotes Do Not Equal DataConsider Who Funded the ResearchRealize That Correlation Does Not Equal CausationFinal Takeaways

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Consider the Source

Be Skeptical of Sensational or Shocking Claims

Evaluate the Research Methods

Remember That Anecdotes Do Not Equal Data

Consider Who Funded the Research

Realize That Correlation Does Not Equal Causation

Final Takeaways

Close

Whether you realize it or not, you have probably been a consumer of psychology research at some point. Nearly every day, new reports about thefindings of the latest psychology studiesare broadcast on television, printed in newspapers, shared on social media, or sensationalized on talk shows. Just pick up any popular magazine to see any number ofself-helparticles that synthesize current psychology research.

How can you determine if these reports are credible or not? In order to become a wise consumer of scientific research (in psychology or other areas), you need to learn how to evaluate the various research reports you come into contact with each day. By understanding how to identify trustworthy information, you can become an informed psychology consumer.

People tend to believe they could easily spot a “fake news” story, but research suggests they’re surprisingly bad at it.

Learning more about how to identify good sources can help you better separate authoritative and accurate sources from the false and sensationalized.

Whenever you read the results of psychology research in popular media sources, you should always consider the original source of the information.

Some things to consider:

18 Psychology Research Terms to Know

When evaluating any type of scientific information, skepticism should always be the rule. Some important things to remember as you encounter scientific claims in the media:

When reviewing a study, be especially wary of claims or findings that seem sensational or unrealistic.

In order to be a wise consumer of psychology, it is important to understand some of the basics ofpsychology research. Elements such as operational definitions,random sampling, and research design are important for understanding the final results of a study.

For example, a particular study may only look at specific individuals within a population or it may consider only a narrow definition of a particular topic. Both of these factors can play a role in what the findings mean to the general population and how the results can be applied to understanding psychological phenomena.

Statistics can be incredibly deceiving if used improperly. Take them with a grain of salt and don’t assume that something must be true if you don’t understand the data.

Be wary of stories or reports that rely solely on anecdotal stories to back up their claims. Just because a small group of individuals has arrived at a similar conclusion does not mean that the population at large shares this view.

Scientific research utilizes random sampling and other research methods to help ensure that the results of a study can be generalized to the rest of the population. Any report that relies on a “This is true for me, so it must be true for everyone else” justification should be viewed with skepticism.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

In evaluating psychological research, it is also important to consider the financial backers who supported the study. Funding can come from a variety of sources including government agencies, non-profit groups, and large corporations.

Be cautious when the results of a study seem to support the agenda of an organization whose goal is to sell products or convince people to share their viewpoint. While such funding sources do not necessarily invalidate the results of a study, you should always be on the lookout for potential conflicts of interest.

Many popular reports of scientific research jump to conclusions and imply causal relationships between variables. Arelationship between two variables, however, does not necessarily imply that changes in onecausechanges in another.

What is Correlation?

Some helpful tips:

Newspapers, magazines, books, and online sources are full of information about the latest psychological research. In order to determine how trustworthy these reports are, it is important to know how to evaluate the stories you read.

While looking up the original study is the best way to assess the information, you can also apply some basic scientific common sense. Be wary of sensationalized claims, watch out for false implications of causation, and remember that skepticism is the rule when evaluating any scientific report.

Test Your Knowledge of Psychological Research Methods

1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.de Beer D, Matthee M.Approaches to Identify Fake News: A Systematic Literature Review. Integrated Science in Digital Age 2020. 2020 May 5;136:13–22. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-49264-9_2

1 Source

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.de Beer D, Matthee M.Approaches to Identify Fake News: A Systematic Literature Review. Integrated Science in Digital Age 2020. 2020 May 5;136:13–22. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-49264-9_2

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

de Beer D, Matthee M.Approaches to Identify Fake News: A Systematic Literature Review. Integrated Science in Digital Age 2020. 2020 May 5;136:13–22. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-49264-9_2

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