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January 11, 2017
When is Research News?
As science communicators, we鈥檙e often in the know about the latest and greatest research鈥昳t鈥檚 the nature of the job. We may informally chat with researchers about what they鈥檙e working on, attend scientific conferences, or be privy to the scientific happenings at our own institutions. The cutting edge of research is an exciting place to be. But science is a careful, thoughtful process. It can take years for researchers to gather enough data to publish an idea. So when鈥檚 the right time to cover a hot new study? It鈥檚 not always an easy choice.
Researchers often present new findings well before they鈥檙e published. But sometimes preliminary results don鈥檛 hold up in the long run. Early findings may prove to be an artifact of a small sample size and vanish once more data is collected, for example. To screen studies for scientific rigor, journals and funding institutions鈥昹ike NIH鈥晅urn to . The peer review process helps ensure that studies have, at a minimum, met the criteria of the scientific method.
When a study is submitted for peer review鈥攅ither for funding or for publication of results鈥攐ther experts in the field are asked to comment on issues such as the study鈥檚 design, quality of the experiments, whether the data supports the conclusions, and how novel or significant the findings are. After receiving feedback, the researchers have an opportunity to address the questions and concerns. They may even need to resubmit the study for another review before it鈥檚 chosen for publication or to receive funding. Through this process, experts trained in the scientific method help hold studies to generally agreed-upon standards.
Peer review aims to improve the quality of the science and how it鈥檚 communicated. It can鈥檛 always protect against scientific bias, dishonesty, or misconduct. Nor is it a guarantee that a study鈥檚 conclusions will hold true over time. Once a study is published, additional reports confirming or contradicting the data often follow. Sometimes a study鈥檚 findings can鈥檛 be replicated by other groups, or its conclusions may need to be reinterpreted in light of new data. But over time, enough evidence will either accumulate to support the study鈥檚 hypothesis, or the idea will be left behind.
This process can sometimes be misunderstood by the general public. For those unfamiliar with the scientific method, the reports they hear can create the perception that what鈥檚 鈥渢rue鈥 one day will change the next. This can contribute to a general mistrust of science.
One way to make research findings clearer to those outside the scientific community is to explain where the findings fit in the scientific process. For instance, let your readers know whether a study has been peer-reviewed. Provide context for how the findings fit into the bigger research picture. Whatever your source, offer information about where to find the study. That lets readers judge the science for themselves. Published biomedical literature is usually listed in the .
Have you ever wondered if it鈥檚 too early to share a new research idea outside of the scientific community? Please share your thoughts with us by sending an email to the NIH Science, Health and Public Trust Communications working group.
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7, International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.
8, NIH Office of Extramural Research Grants & Funding