National Institute of Health (NIH) tools for understanding complex scientific topics
Tips for Spotting Fake Health News
Where did the cited study take place and by whom? Confirm the researchers and organizations are real.
What are they citing? Is it real and credible? Verify they are citing a study from valid scientific journal with an editorial board and a process to review articles.
Is the focus on the research itself, or is it on the researchers or the people?
Is the content focused on the study or the authors of the study?
Are the claims too good to be true? "A cheap drug with no side effects that cures COVID" should raise immediate red flags.
Do they use broad statements around scientific consensus? Any wording with the majority of scientists, scientific societies or the majority of people should immediately raise eyebrows.
Is the piece solely critiquing a study?
Is the focus critiquing a study rather than reporting on a study? Is the main object to discredit some sort of legitimate research? This often leads to imbalance and cherry picked results.
