However, careful researchers will admit that their conclusions rely on imperfection and may turn out to be false when better data becomes available. Expert Testimony You will probably run across studies conducted by clinicians, economists, or other types of researchers. See the section on statistics below for some warnings about facts. Informed opinions and speculation will be the interpretation that the researcher applies to the information. The conclusion that the treatment is cost-effective is an informed opinion.
Speculation is another form of interpretation.
Often, the answers many economists get are based on information from a select sample of individuals, let's say middle-age women. Another potential problem is that predictions might be based on a particular statistical technique and using a different method might give one different predictions. The first thing to do is to check the credentials of the expert. If you find many different researchers coming to the same opinion, that lends greater weight to the evidence. You already have some basic definitions of statistics.