Evaluating Research Studies

Develop the skills to critically appraise scientific claims by dissecting sample sizes, placebo controls, statistical versus clinical significance, publication bias, p-hacking, and the limitations of peer review. These competencies will equip you to evaluate health news headlines, pharmaceutical marketing, and policy arguments that invoke "studies show" as their authority.

intermediate18 minScientific Reasoning

Question 1 of 617% Complete

A supplement brand's Instagram ad states: "Clinically proven! In a study at a leading university, participants who took NeuroFocus showed a 22% improvement in sustained attention scores after just two weeks (n = 16, p = 0.04)." You find the paper and discover it had no placebo control, used an unvalidated attention measure created by the company, and was funded entirely by the manufacturer. What is the most critical problem?