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Can you spot the problem with these headlines? (Level 1) - Jeff Leek and Lucy McGowan

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TEDEd Animation

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In medicine, there’s often a disconnect between news headlines and the scientific research they cover. While headlines are designed to catch attention, many studies produce meaningful results when they focus on a narrow, specific question. So how can you figure out what’s a genuine health concern and what’s less conclusive? Jeff Leek and Lucy McGowan explain how to read past the headline.

We have discussed many different pitfalls that occur when writing about scientific studies. What is an example of a study you have read about that did not accurately describe the results from the original article?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Lucy McGowan, Jeff Leek
  • Director Michael Kalopaidis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Maria Savva
  • Illustrator Dimitra Dakaki
  • Sound Designer Andreas Trachonitis
  • Producer Zedem Media
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

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