Ok, so maybe I slightly altered an old expression to suit my purposes.
And for those of you who don't quite get the reference: instead of the word research there's usually a word there that rhymes with wit.
The point is that knowing what is real research and knowing what is absolutely not research could make all the difference in whether or not you live a healthy life.
Diet and fitness plans routinely advertise that programs are based on studies, evidence and research.
Sounds like a bunch of "research," if you follow my reference.
But trust me, there's a lot of "research" for sell out there and all you want is shinola! Put simply, just about anybody can claim to have conducted research.
Those same "researchers" can publish the results and sell products and services based on their claims.
And they do.
All the time.
The scary part is that these charlatans and shysters aren't as obvious as you might think.
That's very often part of how they get away with it.
They have loads of letters after their names.
Letters like Ph.
D.
and even M.
D.
Just because someone went to medical school doesn't mean every observation she makes is reliable, scientific research.
There.
I said it.
There are no real rules in the marketplace for using terms like research, evidence or study.
Reputable media outlets report results and review books that have claims which are based on little more than a simple survey all the time.
So what is real research? What questions should you ask the next time you see, "A new research report suggests...
"? Real research is scientific research conducted using scientific method.
Researchers must use very specific methods to collect data, test hypotheses and analyze the results.
First, data collection must be conducted using a method called random sampling.
Random sampling is a very specific statistical method.
The use of the word random is confusing, but when referring to statistical sampling, the results that are produced are anything but random.
Researchers must control outside variables that could influence the results of the research and address those issues in the analysis and report.
They must also follow guidelines for sample size and length of the study.
Scientific method follows very exact procedures and results of research are tested for internal validity and reliability.
Research studies should produce empirical evidence that can be measured again and again.
It should have something researchers call reproducibility, meaning, if conducted again; the same results would be obtained.
Nutritionist and bestselling author Thomas Campbell says in his book, The China Study, "...
often the first of many statements of fact in current diet books can be described either as severe ignorance or opportunistic deceit.
It is difficult to know where to begin to refute the maze of misinformation and false promises commonly made by authors completely untrained in nutrition, authors who have never conducted any peer-reviewed, peer-reviewed, professionally based experimental research.
And yet these books are immensely popular.
" Learning to read with a skeptical eye could literally save your life.
High protein, low carbohydrate or extreme diets may help you lose weight, but they may damage your body in the process.
Fitness fads and quick fix weight loss is a booming business and we live in a buyer beware, consumer driven marketplace.
Ask the right questions when you read about new diet and fitness programs.
Get informed about the difference between real, scientific research and everything else.
Check the author's credentials and look for terms like peer-reviewed or empirical evidence.
Fad diets can help shed pounds quickly, but they can do more damage in the long run and they don't help dieters learn healthy habits that lead to long-term, overall wellness.
And for those of you who don't quite get the reference: instead of the word research there's usually a word there that rhymes with wit.
The point is that knowing what is real research and knowing what is absolutely not research could make all the difference in whether or not you live a healthy life.
Diet and fitness plans routinely advertise that programs are based on studies, evidence and research.
Sounds like a bunch of "research," if you follow my reference.
But trust me, there's a lot of "research" for sell out there and all you want is shinola! Put simply, just about anybody can claim to have conducted research.
Those same "researchers" can publish the results and sell products and services based on their claims.
And they do.
All the time.
The scary part is that these charlatans and shysters aren't as obvious as you might think.
That's very often part of how they get away with it.
They have loads of letters after their names.
Letters like Ph.
D.
and even M.
D.
Just because someone went to medical school doesn't mean every observation she makes is reliable, scientific research.
There.
I said it.
There are no real rules in the marketplace for using terms like research, evidence or study.
Reputable media outlets report results and review books that have claims which are based on little more than a simple survey all the time.
So what is real research? What questions should you ask the next time you see, "A new research report suggests...
"? Real research is scientific research conducted using scientific method.
Researchers must use very specific methods to collect data, test hypotheses and analyze the results.
First, data collection must be conducted using a method called random sampling.
Random sampling is a very specific statistical method.
The use of the word random is confusing, but when referring to statistical sampling, the results that are produced are anything but random.
Researchers must control outside variables that could influence the results of the research and address those issues in the analysis and report.
They must also follow guidelines for sample size and length of the study.
Scientific method follows very exact procedures and results of research are tested for internal validity and reliability.
Research studies should produce empirical evidence that can be measured again and again.
It should have something researchers call reproducibility, meaning, if conducted again; the same results would be obtained.
Nutritionist and bestselling author Thomas Campbell says in his book, The China Study, "...
often the first of many statements of fact in current diet books can be described either as severe ignorance or opportunistic deceit.
It is difficult to know where to begin to refute the maze of misinformation and false promises commonly made by authors completely untrained in nutrition, authors who have never conducted any peer-reviewed, peer-reviewed, professionally based experimental research.
And yet these books are immensely popular.
" Learning to read with a skeptical eye could literally save your life.
High protein, low carbohydrate or extreme diets may help you lose weight, but they may damage your body in the process.
Fitness fads and quick fix weight loss is a booming business and we live in a buyer beware, consumer driven marketplace.
Ask the right questions when you read about new diet and fitness programs.
Get informed about the difference between real, scientific research and everything else.
Check the author's credentials and look for terms like peer-reviewed or empirical evidence.
Fad diets can help shed pounds quickly, but they can do more damage in the long run and they don't help dieters learn healthy habits that lead to long-term, overall wellness.