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Can you spot the problem with these headlines? (Level 1) - Jeff Leek and Lucy McGowan

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19,134 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

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In medicine, there’s often a disconnect between news headlines and the scientific research they cover. While headlines are designed to catch attention, many studies produce meaningful results when they focus on a narrow, specific question. So how can you figure out what’s a genuine health concern and what’s less conclusive? Jeff Leek and Lucy McGowan explain how to read past the headline.

In a hypothetical study with ten students, five students consume chocolate daily and five do not. The chocolate eaters end up less stressed than the chocolate-free students. Why is this small sample size a potential red flag for this study?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Lucy McGowan, Jeff Leek
  • Director Michael Kalopaidis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Maria Savva
  • Illustrator Dimitra Dakaki
  • Sound Designer Andreas Trachonitis
  • Producer Zedem Media
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

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