Science Communication

Effectively communicating nutrition science requires tailoring messages to your audience, ensuring accuracy in the message, and placing study findings in the context of broader research. Focus on clear, actionable advice supported by credible evidence, and avoid overstating conclusions. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert in all things and if you aren’t sure about a topic, it’s best to consult other experts with experience in that area.

 

Given the amount of misinformation online and how quickly misinformation can spread, it’s important to question the health and nutrition information you encounter. Use these four key questions the next time you evaluate nutrition information online.

Effectively managing misinformation is crucial for making informed decisions about health, for you, your clients, and your social media followers. Managing health and nutrition misinformation involves recognizing common examples, like selective quotations or outdated research, and knowing how to spot red flags such as lack of credible scientific evidence or unrealistic promises. Use our quick tips for effectively recognizing and managing health and nutrition misinformation.

Interpreting research results accurately requires understanding common terms used in research publications. Misinterpreting these terms, which often happens in media articles, can lead to incorrect conclusions. Use this short list of clear definitions and examples to help build stronger analysis and communication skills. Becoming familiar with these terms will help ensure research is communicated responsibly and effectively.

 

When evaluating nutrition science in the media, it’s important to look beyond the headlines by considering key details that may have been missed by reporters when they are creating an eye-catching media pitch. Use the checklist of questions to carefully evaluate key pieces of information often missed in media reports including the population studied, methods used, and results reported. This critical approach helps identify gaps and oversimplifications often seen in media reports.

 

With the amount of nutrition information (and misinformation) available online, it’s important to have credible sources to consult for evidence-based information and to fact-check what you see online and on social media. These five credible sources are a great place to start to get quality, trusted nutrition information that can be used to answer questions and/or develop education for your followers and clients.
 

Evaluating the quality of scientific research involves assessing factors like the research questions posed, clarity of the methodology, discussion of study limitations, and more. High-quality research is transparent, easily replicable, and grounded in sound methodologies, while low-quality research often lacks clear methods, uses inappropriate analysis, and draws unsupported conclusions. Learn how to identify these signs to ensure you are using high-quality science to inform your nutrition recommendations.

 

Understanding a scientific research study involves interpreting information in key sections of a research publication. Learn about each section of a publication, including what information to expect and questions to ask yourself while reading through each section. Breaking down each section will help you to critically evaluate and apply the study’s results.