The Hidden Choices Behind Geographic Data
Data Literacy
Claire Wilkinson, MPH
Geographic data, or information organized by location, may look precise, but it’s shaped by choices. How boundaries are drawn, how data are grouped, and how small numbers are handled can all change the story you see. Geographic data, or information tied to a specific place, often appears clean and straightforward – zip code, census tract Read more…
What is Negativity Bias?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Negative bias is a type of cognitive bias where we tend to have a stronger response to negative stimuli and information than positive information of equal magnitude. We feel negative events more intensely and may dwell on them to our detriment. Negativity bias impacts how we consume the news, engage in relationships with other Read more…
You see a WILD claim on social media, but how do you know it’s true?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
What is availability bias?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Availability bias, also called availability heuristic, is a type of cognitive bias that occurs when we rely disproportionately on the most readily available information to make decisions or judgments rather than the most representative or accurate data. Reflection and review of all available data can help us mitigate this particular bias. Sometimes do you Read more…
Q: What are sensitivity and specificity, and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. We also want to know the positive and negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! (NOTE: Read more…
What is commitment bias?
Data Literacy Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Commitment bias is when we stick to what we did or said in the past, even when we were clearly wrong, and the outcome didn’t turn out well. Nerdy Girl Dr. Gabriella Kountourides (@GabriellaExplains) talks about why we do it and how it limits our personal growth and ability to learn from mistakes — but Read more…
Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Camille Seaberry, MPS
When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics. Let’s say you’re new to birdwatching. You want to know whether birds of a certain color—gray, for example—are most common near your house. You grab your notebook and Read more…
What is an empathy gap, and why does it matter?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” Read more…
Absolute vs Relative Risk
Data Literacy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Geographic data, or information organized by location, may look precise, but it’s shaped by choices. How boundaries are drawn, how data are grouped, and how small numbers are handled can all change the story you see. Geographic data, or information tied to a specific place, often appears clean and straightforward – zip code, census tract Read more…
What is Negativity Bias?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationSarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Negative bias is a type of cognitive bias where we tend to have a stronger response to negative stimuli and information than positive information of equal magnitude. We feel negative events more intensely and may dwell on them to our detriment. Negativity bias impacts how we consume the news, engage in relationships with other Read more…
You see a WILD claim on social media, but how do you know it’s true?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
What is availability bias?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Availability bias, also called availability heuristic, is a type of cognitive bias that occurs when we rely disproportionately on the most readily available information to make decisions or judgments rather than the most representative or accurate data. Reflection and review of all available data can help us mitigate this particular bias. Sometimes do you Read more…
Q: What are sensitivity and specificity, and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. We also want to know the positive and negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! (NOTE: Read more…
What is commitment bias?
Data Literacy Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Commitment bias is when we stick to what we did or said in the past, even when we were clearly wrong, and the outcome didn’t turn out well. Nerdy Girl Dr. Gabriella Kountourides (@GabriellaExplains) talks about why we do it and how it limits our personal growth and ability to learn from mistakes — but Read more…
Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Camille Seaberry, MPS
When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics. Let’s say you’re new to birdwatching. You want to know whether birds of a certain color—gray, for example—are most common near your house. You grab your notebook and Read more…
What is an empathy gap, and why does it matter?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” Read more…
Absolute vs Relative Risk
Data Literacy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Tl;dr: Negative bias is a type of cognitive bias where we tend to have a stronger response to negative stimuli and information than positive information of equal magnitude. We feel negative events more intensely and may dwell on them to our detriment. Negativity bias impacts how we consume the news, engage in relationships with other Read more…
You see a WILD claim on social media, but how do you know it’s true?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
The Bradford-Hill Criteria give you a scientific checklist that can help you evaluate whether wild health claims are actually true. What is causality anyway? Causality means that one thing directly makes another thing happen. For example, flipping a light switch (A) causes the light to turn on (B), so A causes B. But ice cream Read more…
What is availability bias?
Data LiteracySarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Availability bias, also called availability heuristic, is a type of cognitive bias that occurs when we rely disproportionately on the most readily available information to make decisions or judgments rather than the most representative or accurate data. Reflection and review of all available data can help us mitigate this particular bias. Sometimes do you Read more…
Q: What are sensitivity and specificity, and why should I care?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. We also want to know the positive and negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! (NOTE: Read more…
What is commitment bias?
Data Literacy Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Commitment bias is when we stick to what we did or said in the past, even when we were clearly wrong, and the outcome didn’t turn out well. Nerdy Girl Dr. Gabriella Kountourides (@GabriellaExplains) talks about why we do it and how it limits our personal growth and ability to learn from mistakes — but Read more…
Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Camille Seaberry, MPS
When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics. Let’s say you’re new to birdwatching. You want to know whether birds of a certain color—gray, for example—are most common near your house. You grab your notebook and Read more…
What is an empathy gap, and why does it matter?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” Read more…
Absolute vs Relative Risk
Data Literacy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Tl;dr: Availability bias, also called availability heuristic, is a type of cognitive bias that occurs when we rely disproportionately on the most readily available information to make decisions or judgments rather than the most representative or accurate data. Reflection and review of all available data can help us mitigate this particular bias. Sometimes do you Read more…
Q: What are sensitivity and specificity, and why should I care?
Data LiteracySarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. We also want to know the positive and negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! (NOTE: Read more…
What is commitment bias?
Data Literacy Videos
Those Nerdy Girls
Commitment bias is when we stick to what we did or said in the past, even when we were clearly wrong, and the outcome didn’t turn out well. Nerdy Girl Dr. Gabriella Kountourides (@GabriellaExplains) talks about why we do it and how it limits our personal growth and ability to learn from mistakes — but Read more…
Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Camille Seaberry, MPS
When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics. Let’s say you’re new to birdwatching. You want to know whether birds of a certain color—gray, for example—are most common near your house. You grab your notebook and Read more…
What is an empathy gap, and why does it matter?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” Read more…
Absolute vs Relative Risk
Data Literacy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all and end-all. We also want to know the positive and negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! (NOTE: Read more…
What is commitment bias?
Data Literacy VideosThose Nerdy Girls
Commitment bias is when we stick to what we did or said in the past, even when we were clearly wrong, and the outcome didn’t turn out well. Nerdy Girl Dr. Gabriella Kountourides (@GabriellaExplains) talks about why we do it and how it limits our personal growth and ability to learn from mistakes — but Read more…
Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Camille Seaberry, MPS
When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics. Let’s say you’re new to birdwatching. You want to know whether birds of a certain color—gray, for example—are most common near your house. You grab your notebook and Read more…
What is an empathy gap, and why does it matter?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” Read more…
Absolute vs Relative Risk
Data Literacy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Commitment bias is when we stick to what we did or said in the past, even when we were clearly wrong, and the outcome didn’t turn out well. Nerdy Girl Dr. Gabriella Kountourides (@GabriellaExplains) talks about why we do it and how it limits our personal growth and ability to learn from mistakes — but Read more…
Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.
Data and Metrics Data LiteracyCamille Seaberry, MPS
When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics. Let’s say you’re new to birdwatching. You want to know whether birds of a certain color—gray, for example—are most common near your house. You grab your notebook and Read more…
What is an empathy gap, and why does it matter?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” Read more…
Absolute vs Relative Risk
Data Literacy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics. Let’s say you’re new to birdwatching. You want to know whether birds of a certain color—gray, for example—are most common near your house. You grab your notebook and Read more…
What is an empathy gap, and why does it matter?
Data LiteracySarah Whitley Coles, MD
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” Read more…
Absolute vs Relative Risk
Data Literacy
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” Read more…
Absolute vs Relative Risk
Data LiteracyLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data Literacy
Chana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
This has been updated from the original post from May 26, 2020. ❓Friendly Pop Quiz! Which of these two statements sounds more impressive? (1) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk 50%!” (2) “Terrific Treatment reduced COVID mortality risk from 2 per 100 to 1 per 100!” The first of these two equivalent statements is, of Read more…
What is a confounder (confounding variable) and why should I care? — Tips for making sense of science
Data LiteracyChana Davis, PhD
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Confounders (or confounding variables) are factors that are associated with both the “cause” and “effect” (or exposure and outcome) in a potential cause-and-effect relationship. If ignored, they can cause misleading results and conclusions. Common confounders include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Imagine a study that looked at the relationship between diet and various health conditions. Read more…
What is prebunking?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationSarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Tl;DR: Prebunking is an effective strategy to combat misinformation. Prebunking makes people aware in advance that they might be misled & teaches folks ways to recognize misinformation at the get-go. Prebunking, sometimes called attitudinal inoculation, alerts people in advance that misinformation and disinformation might be coming their way. Prebunking is an effective “heads up” for Read more…
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?
Data LiteracySarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Tl;dr: The Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when someone’s lack of knowledge or skill in a certain area causes them to overestimate their own ability. It also causes people who are the most competent to think less of their skill. Self-reflection, objective measures of performance, and getting meaningful feedback can help keep you from falling victim to Read more…
What is an infodemic?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationSarah Whitley Coles, MD
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
An infodemic occurs when there is so much information that it becomes difficult to sort good information from bad. It is a tidal wave of info that can be incredibly overwhelming. That type of information overload can make it hard to make decisions, find trustworthy resources, or use information to make good choices. Infodemics are Read more…
What is the framing effect?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationSarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Ashley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Tl;dr: The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which our choices are more influenced by how information is presented than the information itself. We can overcome the framing effect by purposefully rephrasing information to reflect both positive and negative aspects of the choice, separating the information from the razzle dazzle, and gathering as much Read more…
How Can I Spot Misinformation & Disinformation in News Info?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationAshley Sever, MPH
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Spotting misinformation (inaccurate information) and disinformation (misleading information and lies) is a vital news literacy skill, and there are several tips to help. TL;DR: Check the URL, look out for errors, question the stats, avoid clickbait, and scrutinize AI. Today, news is served up 24/7 from a range of sources—from journalists to bloggers, to influencers—on Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week!
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
It’s National News Literacy Week! This annual event highlights the importance of news literacy and provides tools for being more savvy consumers (and sharers!) of news and other information. See more info about the week’s events co-hosted by The News Literacy Project and E.W. Scripps Company (many of which are virtual and free) here [archived link]. Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? A: Follow five steps for vetting news sources from The News Literacy Project! (News Literacy Week is February 3-7, 2025. Stay tuned for more from Those Nerdy Girls.) TL:DR; Five steps include – web search the source, look for reporting standards, check for Read more…
What is overdiagnosis in cancer screening and why does it matter?
Data Literacy General HealthSarah Whitley Coles, MD
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data Literacy
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
Cancer screening is a critical tool to improve health. It helps to detect cancer early, before symptoms even appear, and can increase the chances of successful treatment. However, cancer screening does come with risks. One important and sometimes confusing risk is overdiagnosis. When we think about cancer screening, we really have two goals: to detect Read more…
Q: Can I search for questions already answered by Those Nerdy Girls?
Data LiteracyAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and Misinformation
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
A: YES! You can search our past posts on our website at thosenerdygirls.org (by keyword, phrase, and topic)! Since March 2020, Those Nerdy Girls have answered 1000s of questions and almost all of our past posts are searchable at thosenerdygirls.org! For example, we have written *104* posts on ‘Reproductive Health’, *188* on “Uncertainty and Misinformation’, Read more…
Why should I look out for logical fallacies when evaluating a claim or argument?
Data Literacy Uncertainty and MisinformationAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
A: Logical fallacies use faulty reasoning to make it seem like a claim or argument is true when it’s actually invalid and not supported by evidence. TL: DR; Being aware of logical fallacies can help us be more savvy when it comes to evaluating (and making) claims and arguments. Logical fallacies take several forms and Read more…
