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Not all scientific studies are created equal - David H. Schwartz

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Every day, we are bombarded by attention grabbing headlines that promise miracle cures to all of our ailments -- often backed up by a “scientific study.” But what are these studies, and how do we know if they are reliable? David H. Schwartz dissects two types of studies that scientists use, illuminating why you should always approach the claims with a critical eye.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator David Schwartz
  • Director Katie Wendt
  • Producer Aaron Augenblick
  • Compositor Kristofer Wollinger
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
Additional Resources for you to Explore
"A popular study from the 1970s that helps sell millions of dollars' worth of fish oil supplements worldwide is deeply flawed, according to a new study being published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. The original study, by Danish physicians H.O. Bang and D.J. Dyerburg, claimed Inuit in Greenland had low rates of heart disease because of their diet, which is rich in fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids from eating fish and blubber from whales and seals." But there's more! Read more here.
David is a founding partner of Innovative Science Solutions, LLC (ISS), a team of scientists, regulatory strategists, and consultants providing a wide range of fully integrated services to industry and counsel. ISS specializes in effectively communicating complex scientific principles toregulatory and litigation audiences. ISS has worked with counsel on major regulatory and litigation initiatives for the past 15 years.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: An Introduction to Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Self-Study Course)
British Medical Journal: Epidemiology for the uninitiated
Avatar for Liz Schababerle
Students should be taught to be skeptical. This video describes one reason, but what are some others? Financial? Political? Ideas?
11/28/2014 • 
 0 Responses
 / 0 Updates
Avatar for Lisa Scranton
What is skepticism?
08/09/2014 • 
 1 Response
 / 1 Updates
Avatar for Mike Lewinski
Mike Lewinski • Milo, Maine, United States • COMPLETED LESSON
This is an excellent resource for understanding how to evaluate different types of scientific research with an emphasis on the importance of literature reviews and meta-analyses: http://realfoodorg.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/on-getting-near-the-center-of-the-bullseye/
05/03/2014 • 
 1 Response
 / 1 Updates
Avatar for Alex Cobzaru
Though the information is this video is very helpful, I've often found when looking at sources for studies on PubMed online (and other sources for research) that the formatting of the study, or the diction makes it completely incomprehensible. A group should be formed that makes important or often cited studies reformatted to be understandable by laymen and laywomen, so that people can truly be informed citizens.
04/29/2014 • 
 6 Responses
 / 6 Updates
Avatar for Tyrell Bryant
because like all this false information s not helping us at all
09/03/2021 • 
 1 Response
 / 1 Updates

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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 David Schwartz
  • Director Katie Wendt
  • Producer Aaron Augenblick
  • Compositor Kristofer Wollinger
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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