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Poor replication validity of biomedical association studies reported by newspapers
Estelle Dumas-Mallet1,2, Andy Smith1, Thomas Boraud2
1Centre Emile Durkheim, CNRS UMR5116 at Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, France.
Plos One
|February 22, 2017
Summary
Newspaper coverage of biomedical studies often highlights initial findings, even when later contradicted by meta-analyses. Journalists rarely report when these initial claims are disproven, impacting public understanding of scientific validity.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research and science communication.
- Investigating the dissemination of scientific findings through media.
Background:
- Biomedical association studies link risk factors to diseases.
- Newspaper coverage plays a significant role in public perception of science.
- Understanding the accuracy of reported scientific findings is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the replication validity of biomedical association studies reported in newspapers.
- To examine how newspapers cover initial versus subsequent scientific findings.
- To determine if media reporting reflects the scientific consensus.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 4723 primary studies from 306 meta-analyses across psychiatry, neurology, and somatic diseases.
- Classified studies into lifestyle and non-lifestyle risk factors.
- Used Dow Jones Factiva to track newspaper coverage of these studies.
- Compared newspaper-reported findings with meta-analysis results to assess replication validity.
Main Results:
- 1561 newspaper articles covered 156 primary studies; coverage increased with journal impact factor.
- Initial non-lifestyle studies were covered more than subsequent ones; initial psychiatric studies were covered more but less confirmed.
- Only 48.7% of newspaper-reported studies were confirmed by meta-analyses; null findings were rarely reported.
- Journalists preferentially covered initial findings, often disproven by meta-analyses, and seldom reported refutations.
Conclusions:
- Newspaper reporting on biomedical studies often prioritizes initial, unconfirmed findings.
- Media coverage frequently fails to inform the public about scientific refutations.
- This selective reporting may lead to public misunderstanding of scientific progress and validity.
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