Specialized form of an observational study, in which researchers document a single situation—such as an individual patient’s unusual symptoms—in detail. Journalists should report on case studies with caution, since they can’t provide any broad conclusions.
Researchers publish commentaries to share their opinion on an issue or debate in their field. These are essentially scientific op-eds.
A range of values that likely includes the true value researchers are estimating in their study, determined by adding and subtracting the margin of error from the estimate. Large confidence intervals or overlapping intervals when comparing two groups are signs of less meaningful findings.
The tendency to search for, interpret, and process information in a way that supports our previously held beliefs.
Personal or financial ties that could potentially influence the results of a study or indicate a vested interest in supporting a certain scientific claim.
The group that does not receive the intervention or variable being tested in a study. In drug studies, the control group might receive a placebo, or inactive substance.
A relationship between variables. When two things increase or decrease together, they have a positive correlation. When one increases and the other decreases, they have a negative correlation. Correlation does not imply that one variable causes another.
The main point of contact for a paper. Often also the principal investigator (PI).
