I believe in science. It is easy to make the claim, but I do. After all, I teach exercise science. To make this claim, however, I have to admit that my beliefs can be wrong. I have to accept the data. I cannot “cherry-pick”—I can’t choose only to accept the research that supports my narrative. Sadly, though this is increasingly the practice in the US. Worse, many would accept the summary of singular studies as “scientific.” Articles in the popular press, however, are not research studies. Thus, they need to be read carefully for bias and completeness. It has long been a frustration—even before COVID-19.
I am cautious when reading news articles and other popular press reports. In general, I first look for the scientific citation and go directly to the original source. More often than not, it will give me a complete picture of the study—whether or not it is well designed and if the reporter has accurately represented the data. I also want to read similar studies.
The phrase “proven” is a red flag for me. Studies prove nothing. The results of a study are analyzed statistically and reported as probabilities of whether the results occurred by chance. (In statistics these are called “p-values. When a researcher reports that a comparison had a p < 0.05, this suggests that there is a reasonable likelihood that the difference did not result by chance—but there is never 100% certainty. Research as my Education Psychology professor taught us proves nothing. We only come closer to knowing the truth. One study certainly proves nothing.
We have become too accepting of what we read in the media. We have lost (if we ever had) critical reasoning skills. We read it (and it fits our narrative) so it must be true. Of course, when it doesn’t fit our narrative (and the “fact-checkers” support that it doesn’t) we reject the information.
I tell my students to challenge everything I teach. I am not often wrong, but I can be. I, too, after all, am learning. But, if you are going to challenge my ideas, you better come to me with support—more than just a magazine article or someone’s blog. In exercise physiology, you better have a physiological argument for your case. If you can’t, well, you are probably wrong (or you are right, but you lack understanding about that which you are arguing).
We owe it to ourselves and others to get the facts. I learned many years ago from my high school English teacher, Mrs. Moore, to cite original (i.e., primary) sources. Secondary sources, like newspapers, books, blogs, YouTube videos—and particularly social media, need to be confirmed. Even primary sources need to be taken with a grain of salt when they are singular.
Base decisions on reliable information—reliable as in “repeatable” or that which is capable of being duplicated. Base decisions on the strength of the information—not bias.
Logic seems to escape the decision-makers. Data. Show me the data! I understand data, not opinions.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!