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Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.
Statistical Significance01:37

Statistical Significance

Once data is collected from both the experimental and the control groups, a statistical analysis is conducted to find out if there are meaningful differences between the two groups. A statistical analysis determines how likely any difference found is due to chance (and thus not meaningful). In psychology, group differences are considered meaningful, or significant, if the odds that these differences occurred by chance alone are 5 percent or less. Stated another way, if we repeated this...
Eyewitness Memory01:22

Eyewitness Memory

Eyewitness memory refers to the recollection of events by someone who has directly witnessed them, often serving as critical evidence in legal settings. This type of memory is commonly used in criminal cases where a witness describes details like a suspect's appearance, clothing, or behavior during a crime. However, despite its perceived reliability, eyewitness memory is prone to significant errors.
One such error is memory distortion, which occurs because human memory does not function like a...
Cause and Effect01:53

Cause and Effect

While variables are sometimes correlated because one does cause the other, it could also be that some other factor, a confounding variable, is actually causing the systematic movement in our variables of interest. For instance, as sales in ice cream increase, so does the overall rate of crime. Is it possible that indulging in your favorite flavor of ice cream could send you on a crime spree? Or, after committing crime do you think you might decide to treat yourself to a cone?
Patient-centered Care01:13

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Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...
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Confirmation Biases

The confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with our expectations. For example, if you think that your professor is not very nice, you notice all of the instances of rude behavior exhibited by the professor while ignoring the countless pleasant interactions he is involved in on a daily basis. Have you ever fallen prey to the confirmation bias, either as the source or target of such bias?

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems
05:47

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems

Published on: June 13, 2025

Making sense of evidence.

Alex Cohen1, Oye Gureje

  • 1Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. alex_cohen@hms.harvard.edu

International Review of Psychiatry (Abingdon, England)
|September 27, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Psychiatric research presents complex data. Clinicians must critically evaluate evidence, recognizing how biases and context influence interpretation for accurate decision-making.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Evidence-based practice

Background:

  • The rapid influx of psychiatric research findings poses a significant challenge for clinicians.
  • Interpreting and synthesizing sometimes conflicting research data requires careful consideration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine how evidence in psychiatric research is accepted and interpreted.
  • To highlight the influence of contextual factors and pre-existing beliefs on evidence evaluation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of selected examples of psychiatric research evidence.
  • Discussion of the role of critical examination in scientific interpretation.

Main Results:

  • Some evidence in psychiatric research is accepted with insufficient critical scrutiny.

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  • Plausibility of evidence can be influenced by overlooked contextual factors or confirmation bias.

    • Conclusions:

    • Making sense of psychiatric research evidence is a complex process.
    • Professional biases and societal prejudices can significantly impact clinical decision-making.
    • A critical approach is essential for navigating the complexities of psychiatric research.