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Evaluating 'Science'

Stories about science and new scientific theories or discoveries appear in newspapers and magazines and on the television and internet every day. Sometimes the scientific breakthroughs described in these stories are supported by solid research data, but often the claims will have little or no data to back them up. If the story is interesting enough, newspapers and magazines will publish without the support of research data in order to attract readers.

Often, it is quite easy to tell the difference between science fact and science fiction. If you read a story about science and want to know how seriously to take it, asking yourself the following questions will help:

  • Who has done this research? Is a University or Research Institute mentioned? Is it well-known, or have you never heard of it?

  • Are the research findings backed up by independent experts? A good journalist will provide quotes from several different experts. Do these experts agree with the new research, are they cautious about supporting it, or do they dismiss the results as flawed?

  • If the story quotes facts and figures to back up the claims being made, are these facts and figures properly referenced? Do these facts and figures come from a reliable source?