Research reports must remain comprehensible to statistically untrained readers

Evidence

Researchers always include written descriptions of the pertinent aspects of tables and graphs. While reading these descriptions, check the tables and graphs to make sure what the researchers say accurately reflects their data. If they say there was a difference between two groups on a particular dependent measure, look at the means in the table that correspond to those two groups, and see if the means do differ as described. Occasionally, results seem to become stronger in their narrative description than an examination of the data would warrant. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4572 (#complicates, via linked claim)

There are, however, more efficient approaches—approaches that enable you, a student of social psychology, to cut through peripheral details, avoid sophisticated statistics with which you may not be familiar, and focus on the central ideas in an article. Arming yourself with a little foreknowledge of what is contained in journal articles, as well as some practical advice on how to read them, should help you read journal articles more effectively. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4545 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Journal articles can be read strategically by skipping peripheral detail and unfamiliar statistics — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4545; Narrative descriptions of results can exaggerate what the data shows — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4572; Lay readers can understand statistical results by reading the plain-English narrative descriptions — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4570 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Narrative descriptions of results can exaggerate what the data shows #complicates (0.74) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4572
• Journal articles can be read strategically by skipping peripheral detail and unfamiliar statistics #complicates (0.72) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4545