Discussion: Online Articles and Research Studies

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Academic research often comes to us in the form of popular articles shared by our friends, perhaps on a social media site like Facebook. But where does that information originate?

For this discussion post, first select one of the four below articles. Read it through more than once, taking note of any details provided, or any mention of academic studies or research.

Believe It or Not: Diet Soda is Better than Water When Trying to Lose Weight
Wi-Fi Especially Dangerous for Young Children – Cell Phones Too
Chocolate Might Be Even Better For the Brain Than Exercise, Study Says
Half of All Children Will Be Autistic by 2025, Warns Senior Research Scientist at MIT
Then, see if you can locate the original research study that is referenced in the article. Answer the following questions in a cohesive paragraph: Where did you look to find the original research? How does the original research compare to what was reported in the online article? How accurate do you think the author of the online article was in reporting the results? How is the author using that data? And why? Do you feel that their representation is accurate, true, valid, reliable? How would your evaluation of the online article and the original research differ? As you examine the quality of the online article and the original research study, you may refer to A Rough Guide to Spotting Bad Science.