How the BBC Reports Cancer Research
Author Information
Author(s): Lewison G, Tootell S, Roe P, Sullivan R
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
How do the media report cancer research?
Conclusion
The study found that BBC cancer research stories heavily focus on breast cancer and often overcite UK research compared to its global presence.
Supporting Evidence
- Breast cancer stories made up over one-third of all relevant BBC stories.
- UK cancer research was overcited by a factor of about 6 compared to its global presence.
- About 76% of the cited papers fell within the oncology subfield.
Takeaway
The BBC talks a lot about breast cancer in its stories, even though there are many other types of cancer that need attention too.
Methodology
The study analyzed cancer research stories on the BBC website from July 1998 to June 2006, coding them for relevance and extracting data on cancer sites and cited research.
Potential Biases
The study may reflect a bias towards UK and US research due to overcitation.
Limitations
The study only focused on BBC stories and may not represent media coverage from other outlets.
Participant Demographics
The stories cited research from over 60 countries, with a significant focus on the UK and US.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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