It helps to have a firm understanding of how science works, so that you know what a scientific study should (and should not) include.
But if you've found an article, book or website that you suspect of mixing in bad science, the infographic below can help you pinpoint it. If you have trouble viewing the infographic, try:
- Science in disguise (text)
- Battling bad science (video, with subtitles and transcript)
- What makes science true? (video, with subtitles and transcript)
- Good science, bad science, pseudoscience, and just plain bunk (ebook)
If you identify signs of pseudoscience in an article or book, do not use it for your research - even if it looks like a scholarly source on the surface. If you find a popular source or website that you suspect isn't accurately reporting a scientific study, track down the original article or book to read it for yourself.
See also:
- How do I find peer-reviewed or scholarly articles?
-
Scientific papers are sometimes hard to read. Do you have any tips?
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