Research Methods

Implementing and evaluating the appropriate research methods is essential to developing solutions to complex health challenges.

Free Associations Podcast | May 2nd, 2023

Did we have any effect on COVID?

Matt, Jess, and Chris discuss a complex ecologic study on the effect of various interventions for COVID, they debate whether living evidence syntheses can save science, and Chris updates us on what killed Beethoven.

Free Associations Podcast | April 4th, 2023

Do masks work for COVID?

Matt, Jess, and Chris examine a meta-analysis on whether masks reduce respiratory virus transmission, they discuss the peer review madness, and Jess tells us about vibrating pills.

Free Associations Podcast | March 7th, 2023

Gestational age at birth and cognitive outcomes

Matt, Jess, and Chris discuss a study on the impact of gestational age at birth and cognitive outcomes, they debate who should be an author on an academic publication, and Jess tells us whether fish can recognize themselves.

Free Associations Podcast | February 7th, 2023

Are magic mushrooms the answer to severe depression?

Matt, Jess, and Chris discuss a phase 2 clinical trial on the use of psilocybin to treat severe depression, they lament the state of health literacy, and Chris finds out what happens when you give drugs to spiders.

Free Associations Podcast | December 13th, 2022

RSV during the COVID pandemic

Matt, Jess, and guest host Leo Martinez discuss a study on the respiratory syncytial virus during the pandemic, they debate the value of the evidence in preprints, and Jess redesigns the urinal.

Free Associations Podcast | November 15th, 2022

Effects of racism on health in New Zealand

Matt, Jess, and guest host Collette Ncube examine a study using different types of measurement to look at the effects racism has on health outcomes in New Zealand, they discuss what makes for a good research question when it comes to studying health disparities, and Jess teaches us how to hold a baby if you want them to sleep.

Free Associations Podcast | October 18th, 2022

Synergistic mindsets to reduce stress

Matt, Jess, and guest host Sarah Lipson examine a study on synergistic mindsets to reduce stress in adolescents, they discuss what it’s like to study mental health, and Matt makes a friendly wager.

Free Associations Podcast | September 20th, 2022

Redlining and preterm birth

Matt, Jess, and guest host Jonathan Jay examine a study on the impact of historical redlining and structural racism on preterm birth rates in New York City, they discuss firearm research in the US, and Jess enlightens us on the smellscape.

Free Associations Podcast | August 23rd, 2022

All the pretty COVID models

Matt, Chris (that’s right, he’s back for an episode), and guest host Brooke Nichols review one of the earliest COVID modelling papers, they discuss the importance and value of COVID models in general, and Brooke tells us why we should care about losing our hats.

Free Associations Podcast | June 28th, 2022

Cardiovascular risk factors in childhood

Matt, Jess, and guest host Marcia Pescador Jimenez discuss the impact of cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and their relation to cardiovascular events as adults, they review the benefits of vaccination after infection with COVID, and Marcia tells a spooky story.

Free Associations Podcast | May 31st, 2022

Acetaminophen and blood pressure

Matt, Jess, and guest host Junenette Peters examine a study on whether acetaminophen (paracetamol) increases blood pressure, they discuss what the best measure of the impact of the pandemic is, and Jess wonders what a world of all electric cars would be like.

Free Associations Podcast | February 8th, 2022

What can VAERS tell us about vaccine exemptions?

Matt, Chris, and Don examine a study that looked at whether changes in reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System are linked to a vaccine exemption change in California (before COVID), they discuss the implications of poor vaccination coverage surveys, and Don shows us that computers can be used for plagiarism, but there are often telltale signs.

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