This pandemic is really showing who has scientific literacy and who doesn't.

I'm not trying to shame anyone, but skimming an abstract and understanding a study (and its results) are two VASTLY different things. Here's some insight into why. 1/4

Often, articles discussing studies tend to focus less on design and more on results. These results, however, depend heavily on the design of the study itself: sample sizes, what variables are being accounted for, and diagnostic methods all matter. 2/4

Not all studies are the same, but understanding what to look out for in a study is important. Ask: is the study limited in its approach? Does it have a small sample size? How is data being collected, and how reliable is the collection method? 3/4

Thousands of studies are published every year, and right now people are trying to use unreliable studies and vague articles about them to push dangerous agendas. Science isn't perfect, but understanding the imperfections and caveats of it is very important.