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Exploring Accuracy In Journalism Stories Reporting On Neuroscience Research Findings: A Comparative Case Study, Andrea M. Campbell-Davison

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract

Neuroscience has seen explosive growth in research and public interest, but research findings are often reported inaccurately, impacting public understanding. Exploratory descriptive case study methods were used to analyze two peer reviewed research articles, one on brain imaging for patients in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS), and another on Brain Training (BT), and all journalism stories regarding these two studies. Statistical and content analyses were used to analyze the accuracy of the translation of the research into journalism stories. PVS research received more media attention and this reporting was less accurate than for BT research; the information was also …