deHype terminology
Evidence strength
How much confidence the available evidence can reasonably support.
What it means
Definition
Evidence strength: Evidence strength depends on study design, quality, consistency, size, directness, and relevance to the claim being made.
What it can tell you
It can help explain why a report is cautious even when the underlying study is real.
What it cannot tell you
It cannot replace reading the source evidence, methods and limitations.
Headline trap
Why this matters in headlines
A large human trial usually provides stronger evidence than a small animal study for a consumer health claim.