<p>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.</p><p><strong>Statistical topics</strong></p><ul><li>Alternative explanations</li><li>Arithmetic consistency / GRIM test</li><li>Blinding</li><li>Effect size / magnitude</li><li>Generalizability / external validity</li><li>Observational studies vs. experiments</li><li>Outcome measurement</li><li>PICOT framework</li><li>Placebo and expectancy effects</li><li>Primary outcomes / pre-specification</li><li>Randomized controlled trials</li><li>Research hypotheses</li><li>Sample size </li><li>SMART framework</li><li>Statistical significance (signal vs. noise)</li><li>Transparency and trustworthiness<p></p></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Methodological morals</strong></p><ul><li>“​​You don't need a PhD to read a study. Just remember, PICOT and SMART.”</li><li>“A decimal point can mean the difference between life and death. Details matter.”</li></ul><p><strong>References</strong></p><ul><li>Renner F, Kersbergen I, Field M, Werthmann J. Dutch courage?<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29043911/"> Effects of acute alcohol consumption on self-ratings and observer ratings of foreign language skills</a>. <em>J Psychopharmacol</em>. 2018;32(1):116-122. doi:10.1177/0269881117735687</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br><strong>Kristin and Regina’s online courses: <br></strong><br></p><p><a href="https://online.stanford.edu/courses/som-xche0033-demystifying-data-modern-approach-statistical-understanding">Demystifying Data: A Modern Approach to Statistical Understanding</a>  </p><p><a href="https://online.stanford.edu/courses/som-xche0030-clinical-trials-design-strategy-and-analysis">Clinical Trials: Design, Strategy, and Analysis</a> </p><p><a href="https://online.stanford.edu/programs/medical-statistics-program">Medical Statistics Certificate Program</a>  </p><p><a href="https://www.coursera.org/learn/sciwrite">Writing in the Sciences</a> </p><p><a href="https://online.stanford.edu/programs/epidemiology-and-clinical-research-graduate-certificate">Epidemiology and Clinical Research Graduate Certificate Program</a> </p><p>Programs that we teach in:</p><p><a href="https://online.stanford.edu/programs/epidemiology-and-clinical-research-graduate-certificate">Epidemiology and Clinical Research Graduate Certificate Program</a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Find us on:</strong></p><p>Kristin - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-sainani-642b5914/"> LinkedIn</a> &amp;<a href="https://x.com/KristinSainani"> Twitter/X</a></p><p>Regina -<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginanuzzo/"> LinkedIn</a> &amp;<a href="https://www.reginanuzzo.com/"> </a><a href="http://reginanuzzo.com">ReginaNuzzo.com</a></p>

Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics

Regina Nuzzo and Kristin Sainani

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

NOV 17, 202561 MIN
Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics

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

NOV 17, 202561 MIN

Description

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 topics

  • Alternative explanations
  • Arithmetic consistency / GRIM test
  • Blinding
  • Effect size / magnitude
  • Generalizability / external validity
  • Observational studies vs. experiments
  • Outcome measurement
  • PICOT framework
  • Placebo and expectancy effects
  • Primary outcomes / pre-specification
  • Randomized controlled trials
  • Research hypotheses
  • Sample size 
  • SMART framework
  • Statistical significance (signal vs. noise)
  • Transparency and trustworthiness


Methodological 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.”

References



Kristin 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/X

Regina - LinkedIn & ReginaNuzzo.com