When there are several scientific studies on something and they are all opposing!


Question:

When there are several scientific studies on something and they are all opposing each other?

what or who are you to believe?


Answers:

Check who funded the studies. Many times, an "independent" study is actually funded by some company or group that really isn't independent at all. If a group is biased, the study may be biased.

Also, check for the largest study from the most reputable source. Statistically speaking, larger studies are more reliable just because there's less of a skew in the results from a few idiosyncratic subjects. You'll see the pattern better if there are more people in the group.

Universities tend to be more reliable than independent researchers with an axe to grind or somebody they want to refute. Say a study is carried out by a drug company. Say it's favorable toward the company's product.

You should take that with a grain of salt because it may just be a marketing ploy dressed up to look like a study.

Try to find the largest study done by the least biased group that lasted the longest. At least you'll have statistics on your side and the chance that it's done for science, not profit.




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