Welcome to the hierarchy (of evidence)

What are the best (and worst) types of scientific evidence?  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Hey there, Did you know that not all scientific evidence is created equal? There’s high- and low-quality evidence, and the ultimate goal of any line of research is the accumulation of high-quality evidence for a given hypothesis. What determines the quality of evidence, though, and why do some kinds of evidence carry more weight than others? Answering this question can seem all but impossible when you’re poking around online. Every time you think you know what a study means, someone else comes along and points out why another, better piece of evidence trumps that one. The good news is that scientists have a proven system for ranking evidence called the hierarchy of evidence. A hierarchy is “a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.” Here’s how the scientific hierarchy of evidence looks, with the highest-quality evidence at the top, and the lowest-quality at the bottom: You've probably asked yourself at one time or another, “With all of the conflicting studies out there, how are you supposed to know what’s true and what’s not?” The answer is simpler than many people realize: By examining how robust evidence is according to the hierarchy, you can understand which claims are more likely to be true than others. You can know, for instance, that anecdotes online or even published case studies shouldn’t be weighted more than the results of RCTs, that the results of an individual RCT aren’t the final word on a matter, and that research reviews and meta-analyses can be scientific treasure troves. How do you find, understand, and assess research, though? And how do you determine the “weight of the evidence”? I break it all down in my newest book [Fitness Science Explained](. [Image of ]( [Shop Now]( Here are just a few of the things you’ll discover inside: - The 9 little-known reasons fitness science only appears to be so contradictory and confusing (but isn’t when you have the inside baseball). - How to quickly and easily determine the quality of any scientific evidence and know how much importance to give it. - Precise and layman-friendly definitions for each of the key terms you must understand to speak the “language” of science. - A quick-and-dirty breakdown of the anatomy of a scientific study and how each part functions, including methods, statistical analysis, results, funding and competing interests, and more. - A paint-by-numbers simple checklist for rapidly and accurately assessing the quality of a study to see if it passes the sniff test. - How to find and access high-quality scientific research without spending a fortune. - And more Also, to celebrate this joyous occasion, I’m giving away $1,500 in Legion gift cards! All you have to do for a chance to win is… - [Buy a copy of Fitness Science Explained (any format)]( - Forward the receipt email to launch@legionsupplements.com . . . and voila, you’re entered in the giveaway. You have to act fast, though, because the winners will be chosen on Friday, September 4th. You can also increase your chances of winning by buying extra copies of the book (any formats). Specifically . . . - If you buy 3 copies, you’ll get 5 giveaway entries (+400% chance to win). - If you buy 5 copies, you’ll get 8 giveaway entries (+700% chance to win). - If you buy 10 copies, you’ll get 15 giveaway entries (+1400% chance to win) plus an autographed copy of the book. So, for instance, if you buy the [paperback]( [ebook]( and [audiobook]( you’ll get 5 entries to win, and if you buy 3 paperbacks as well as the ebook and audiobook, you’ll get 8 entries, and so forth. Here’s that link again: ⇒ [( Go for it! Mike P.S. At bottom, [Fitness Science Explained]( is the book I wish someone would’ve given me years ago when I entered the evidence-based fitness space. It would’ve saved me a lot of time and trouble wading through the complexities of scientific jargon, methods, and outcomes, as well as all-too-common misinterpretations, misrepresentations, and outright lies. So, if you want to know how to protect yourself from bad science and benefit from good science, and if you want to get up to speed quickly regardless of your educational background, [get your copy today](. Want to earn cash back on every purchase you make? [Click here to learn how](. Already have a rewards account? [Click here to view your point balance](. To update your email preferences, [click here](. To unsubscribe, [click here](. Legion Athletics, Inc. 1255 Cleveland St. Floor 4 Clearwater, FL 33755 ‌