Fairness, balance and objectivity are among the values that are supposed to guide journalists and media outlets. As they broadcast information, these parties need to ensure that the information is credible and accurate. In the US, media organizations have faced accusations that they are purveying lies and fake news. While these accusations may seem unfair, they appear grounded in truth. Media outlets tend to use headlines which grab attention but do not convey any substantial information. This practice is harmful and dangerous as it undermines the integrity of the media organizations while misleading the public.
Research Questions and Hypotheses
CNN is among the media organizations that have been the subject of claims that media outlets spread fake news and misinformation. It is therefore interesting to see if this organization is truthful in its reporting on scientific findings. In May 2018, CNN published a story in which it detailed the results of a study on the impacts of eggs on the risk for cardiovascular disease (Scutti, 2018). This research was conducted by a group of Chinese scientists led by Chenxi Qin (2018). While the research question and hypotheses are not explicitly stated, they can be inferred from the research article. Qin and his colleagues note that they set out to “examine the associations of egg consumption with CVD, including IHD, major coronary events (MCE), haemorrhagic stroke and ischaemic stroke” (Qin et al., 2017, p. 1). From this statement of purpose, the research question may be framed as follows: Is the consumption of eggs a risk factor for cardiovascular disease among the Chinese? The corresponding hypothesis is that excessive consumption of eggs exposes individuals to an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It should be remembered that this hypothesis is not stated in the article but is constructed from the stated purpose of the research.
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Independent and Dependent Variables
Research studies are usually designed to include dependent and independent variables. This design allows researchers to understand the relationship between the two types of variables. The number of eggs consumed per day is the main independent variable that Qin and his colleagues examined during their study. Incidences of various cardiovascular diseases among the participants were the primary dependent variable. The choice of these variables is clearly wise and in line with established scientific procedures and guidelines. By comparing the egg consumption levels with the incidences of cardiovascular disease, Qin and his team hoped to establish if the former is a risk factor for the latter.
Overall Design of Study
For the results of a study to be considered accurate and credible, the study’s design needs to comply with established guidelines. Qin and his colleagues clearly understood the importance of designing a study wisely. For their study, they recruited 461,213 participants (Qin et al., 2017). This number includes individuals from different demographic groups. Given the high number and the diversity of the participants, it is fair to conclude that the study’s results are credible. Qin and his team administered a digital questionnaire to the participants when they visited local clinics. The participants were required to indicate the amount and frequency of egg consumption (Qin et al., 2017). This questionnaire was administered several times to the same participants. In addition to indicating egg consumption, the participants also provided such information as their age, educational background and marital status. Medical history and income levels are other details that the participants provided through the questionnaire. Staff representing Qin and his colleagues took measurements of such metrics as weight, blood pressure and waist circumference (Qin et al., 2017). With the data that they obtained, the researchers conducted a logistic regression. Moreover, they performed sensitivity analyses with the goal of safeguarding the integrity of the study.
Summary and Evaluation of Conclusion
The observations that Qin and his team revealed interesting insights into the link between egg consumption and cardiovascular disease. They established that there were 83,776 cases of cardiovascular disease (Qin et al., 2017). The various analyses that they conducted led them to conclude that there is a significant association between egg consumption and the incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, the conclusion that the researchers make is rather odd, surprising and inconsistent with what one would expect. They conclude that instead of being a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, egg consumption actually shields individuals against heart disease. It is stated that “daily consumers (of eggs)…were associated with a 26% lower risk of haemorrhagic stroke” (Qin et al., 2017, p.6). This conclusion is in conflict with the hypothesis stated earlier.
Excluded Information
In an earlier discussion, the media were presented as unfaithful to the truth. A comparison of the CNN article with the actual research article indicates that it could be true that the media cannot be trusted to be honest and accurate. In the CNN article, it is stated that “daily egg eaters had an 18% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease” (Scutti, 2018). There is no mention of this claim in the original research article. Qin and his colleagues only state that those who consume at least one egg daily have a 26% lower risk of developing haemorrhagic stroke. In addition to presenting untrue information, CNN also excluded some important details. For example, Qin and his team are careful to remind readers that their findings are inconsistent with the observations that other scholars have made. By admitting that there are inconsistencies, Qin and his colleagues are essentially encouraging readers to accept the findings with caution and that the scholarly community should conduct further research. CNN is too quick to present the findings that Qin and his fellow scholars made as an endorsement of egg consumption.
In conclusion, media organizations continue to lose their integrity and public confidence. This reality can be attributed to the failure by these organizations to present accurate and balanced information. The CNN coverage of the study that Qin and his colleagues conducted show that the accusations against the media are fair and based on the truth. While the CNN report captured the essence of the findings of the study, it failed to convey the more important details. If media organizations are to reclaim public trust, they need to return to the fundamental values on which they are based.
References
Scutti, S. (2018). An egg a day might reduce your risk of heart disease, study says .
CNN . Retrieved June 13, 2018 from https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/21/health/eggs-heart-disease-study/index.html
Qin, C., Lv, J., Guo, Y. et al. (2017). Associations of egg consumption with cardiovascular
Disease in a cohort study of 0.5 million Chinese adults. Heart. DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2017-312651
