SCIENCE IN THE MEDIA

=Science in the Media= [image:http://i.imgur.com/l8KHw4O.png?1] Every day, we are bombarded with messages based on science. People often rely on the media for information as they don't have the time or expertise to do the research themselves. Unfortunately, the media don't always get it right. Understanding Science can make you a better-informed consumer of those messages, it can help separate science from spin, identify misrepresentations of science, and find trustworthy sources for further information. ==So who can we trust?== [image:http://i.imgur.com/uKHN6qt.png?1] Peer-reviewed scientific journals are generally considered the most reliable sources of information. They generally publish article that have been written by the scientists who made the discovery themselves. Experimental procedures are included, allowing other researchers to reproduce the experiment. Peer-reviewed journals are also checked by other researchers who are experts in the field. However, Science is an evolving body of knowledge and ideas can change. For this reason it is very important that researchers keep up to date with recent publications. '''''Nature''''' (biology) and '''''The Lancet''''' (medical) are two of the most highly respected scientific journals. They have a very strict publication process and findings are only published if they are supported by several lines of evidence and everything is checked by other experts in the field. Unfortunately, most peer-reviewed journal articles are not easy reading. They focus on accuracy and detail in order to ensure that results aren't misinterpreted and that findings are reproducible. Without a relevant qualification, such as a university degree, journals can be very difficult to understand. People often rely on other sources of information that are easier to understand. The following factors often suggest a source is reliable: *The provide citations (references), especially peer-reviewed scientific journals *The information published is in agreement with other reputable sources *The Information is published by an impartial organisation with a reputation for accuracy *The author has a qualification relevant to the field of study *The publication is recent Unfortunately these factors are no assurance of reliability. Some writers may even claim to hold qualifications they don't. An author may reference peer-reviewed scientific journals without having understood or even read them. It may be necessary to track down the primary source of a claim and to examine it against other evidence. Fortunately, there are also some popular publications with a reputation for accuracy. For instance '''''New Scientist''''' writs articles that are easier to understand but bases their information of primary sources and all claims are checked by editors with relevant qualifications.