NEW PTF46 – Critical Thinking how to assess data and info with an unbiased eye

Description

Profile: This workshop will introduce key principles of critical thinking that underpin clear, accurate, and responsible scientific communication. It is aimed at medical writers who need to interpret and communicate data objectively, with accuracy and with nuance. No prior training in data analysis is required. Participants wanting to strengthen their ability to assess scientific claims – particularly within clinical research – will find this session a valuable foundation.

Objective: Critical thinking is essential for all communicators. As medical writers, we are routinely required to interpret complex research, evaluate the robustness of evidence, and present balanced, narratives to regulators, healthcare professionals, and patients. Yet clinical data may be unintentionally or deliberately misrepresented: graphical choices, selective reporting, and emphasis on relative rather than absolute effects can all distort how results appear.

This workshop aims to help participants identify common pitfalls in reasoning and assess the strength of evidence. A particular focus will be placed on critically thinking about clinical data. Participants should leave equipped to evaluate scientific arguments more confidently, avoid common analytical traps, and communicate clinical data in a transparent and scientifically rigorous way.

Content: Participants will be guided through common areas of ‘bad science’ and the significant consequences of misleading or inaccurate science communication. A dedicated section will focus on the critical evaluation of clinical data, which will address key areas such as exposure presentation, risk interpretation, statistical significance, and the appropriate use and limitations of subgroup analyses.