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HS 1363: Intro to Public Health

Research vs Not Research Evidence vs Not Evidence

Is the information I found Authoritative -- Not Authoritative -- Evidence -- Not Evidence

Authority in science

YES - probably authoritative if...:

  • Text is written by someone with credentials, training, AND experience in the TOPIC.
  • Peer Reviewed 
  • Scholarly 
  • Avoids opinion 
  • Controls for Bias
  • Usually academic
  • Usually scientific

HINT: Use Ulrich's Periodical Database to identify peer-reviewed, scholarly, scientific journals:

Information confusion

NO - Not Authoritative

  • Some Newspaper items are not
    • if they do not provide references to primary sources of information quoted and discussed in the article.
  • Some Websites are not
    • if the text is written by people without credentials, training, and experience in the topic area
  • Agenda-driven resources (Biased)

Evidence tiles in Scrabble game      =      Medical Testing

Evidence in the literature is...:

  • Literature that ASKs a question.
    • looking for an answer we don't have an answer for yet. 
  • Literature that TESTs something.  
    • Program A versus Program B
    • Video versus Infographic
    • TikTok versus Instagram
    • E-Cigs versus Nicotine patches
  • Literature that has a METHOD section 
    • can also be labeled Design & Materials section
  • Also known as "the science."
  • Primary literature
    • 1st person language -- "I did xyz123."
    • the researcher records (or documents) the steps of the testing process and publishes the results

            

NOT Evidence in the literature if...:

  • Literature simply explains.
  • Literature simply defines.
  • Literature simply describes or discusses.

            Ted Talk speaker Ideas Worth Spreading  

Some evidence derived from research testing is stronger than others.
Below are links to a few examples of how to rate the strength of evidence found in research studies.