Education Quote by Eric Weiner
““Most of all, we love a good study. Newscasters know instinctively that the best way to get people’s ears to perk up is with these five words: “A new study has found.” It matters little what follows next. A new study has found that red wine is good for you / kills you. A new study has found that homework dulls the brain / enlarges it. We especially like studies that lend credibility to our own idiosyncrasies, as in, “A new study has found that people with messy desks are smarter” or “A new study has found that moderate daily flatulence improves longevity.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The New York Times Book of the Unexpected,” 2015
People are drawn to sensational headlines like “A new study has found…” because they promise simple answers, even when the underlying research is trivial or misleading.
In simple terms: Sensational headlines simplify complex facts.
Key Takeaway
Question sources and seek depth beyond headlines.
Themes
media
science communication
skepticism
bias
information overload
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
critical
Type
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- reading news
- academic research
- public policy
- education
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
critical thinking
journalism
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify a study’s credibility?
- What impact do such headlines have on public behavior?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize all scientific reporting as sensational.
![“But with each passing year and each new study, the evidence for the genetic contribution to these [individual and group] differences becomes more firmly established than ever.” quote by J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cde/j-philippe-rushton-25237_contribution_but-with-each-passing-year-and-each-new_1159532.jpg)
