Holiday Survival Guide: How to talk about scientific studies around the dinner table

What this episode covers

Does a little alcohol really make you speak a foreign language better? This week we unpack a quirky randomized trial that tested Dutch pronunciation after a modest buzz—and came to the opposite conclusion the researchers expected. We use it as the perfect holiday case study: instead of arguing with Uncle Joe at the dinner table, we’ll show you how to pull apart a scientific headline using a friendly, practical checklist anyone can learn. Along the way we stress-test the study’s claims, take a quick detour into what a .04% buzz actually looks like, and run our own before-and-after experiment with two brave science journalists at the ScienceWriters2025 conference in Chicago. A holiday survival guide with vodka tonics, statistical sleuthing, and a few surprisingly smooth French phrases.Statistical topicsAlternative explanationsArithmetic consistency / GRIM testBlindingEffect size / magnitudeGeneralizability / external validityObservational studies vs. experimentsOutcome measurementPICOT frameworkPlacebo and expectancy effectsPrimary outcomes / pre-specificationRandomized controlled trialsResearch hypothesesSample size SMART frameworkStatistical significance (signal vs. noise)Transparency and trustworthinessMethodological morals“​​You don't need a PhD to read a study. Just remember, PICOT and SMART.”“A decimal point can mean the difference between life and death. Details matter.”ReferencesRenner F, Kersbergen I, Field M, Werthmann J. Dutch courage? Effects of acute alcohol consumption on self-ratings and observer ratings of foreign language skills. J Psychopharmacol. 2018;32(1):116-122. doi:10.1177/0269881117735687Kristin and Regina’s online courses: Demystifying Data: A Modern Approach to Statistical Understanding  Clinical Trials: Design, Strategy, and Analysis Medical Statistics Certificate Program  Writing in the Sciences Epidemiology and Clinical Research Graduate Certificate Program Programs that we teach in:Epidemiology and Clinical Research Graduate Certificate Program Find us on:Kristin -  LinkedIn & Twitter/XRegina - LinkedIn & ReginaNuzzo.com (00:00) - Intro (03:30) - Uncle Joe and the question of alcohol (07:20) - Randomized controlled trial (10:10) - PICOT mnemonic (15:43) - Just how drunk? (21:41) - Boring non-placeb (32:29) - Kristin’s SMART mnemonic (38:15) - How big of an effect? (49:29) - Two science journalists walk into a bar (55:43) - Martini scale and wrap-up

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