unreliable finding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unreliable finding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing research results or conclusions that are not trustworthy or consistent. Example: "The study's methodology was flawed, leading to an unreliable finding that cannot be used to support the hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

More dangerously, unreliable findings may lead to unhelpful applications of science in clinical or community settings.

The Guardian

A substantial and variable placebo response can cause unreliable findings in clinical trials designed to demonstrate the efficacy of antidepressants, and the high rate of failed trials represents a major obstacle in the development of new drugs for major depressive disorder (MDD).

Journal of Psychiatric Research

Further, there are many more examples of unreliable findings evidenced by "failures to replicate".

Duke University

While the publication of valid and reliable studies reduces the uncertainty and adds to the knowledge on gamifying education, thus helping to shape future research in the field, invalid or unreliable findings obscure our understanding of the studied phenomenon.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

When a few measurement results are available for the same set of initial data, that method makes it possible to reject unreliable findings.

Colloid and Polymer Science

Also, the sample sizes involved unprecedented for a neuroimaging study—alleviate some of the concerns about underpowered studies and unreliable findings (Button et al. 2013).

Brain Imaging and Behavior

There are three partial remedies for this unavoidable conflict between the reliable subgroup-specific conclusions that doctors and patients want and need, and the statistically unreliable findings that direct subgroup-specific analyses can usually offer.

British Journal of Cancer

A key step to providing successful public health communication is to identify those who are particularly vulnerable to finding and using unreliable and misleading information.

Vaccine

And as thousands will discover – some to their cost and others to their delight – when they hear their final exam results today, A-level predictions are notoriously unreliable, with a 2011 study finding that less than 52% of predictions were accurate.

The Guardian

In accordance with the beliefs of the later Leopold von Ranke (1795 1886), some Song gentry —such as Zhao Mingcheng (1081 1129)— valued archaeological evidence over historical works written after the fact, finding written records unreliable when they failed to match with the archaeological discoveries.

Wikipedia

And while Russia's increasingly authoritarian political climate makes opinion surveys notoriously unreliable, the findings nonetheless suggest that trouble could be brewing for Mr. Putin's government.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing research, clearly state the reasons why a finding is considered "unreliable", such as methodological flaws or lack of replication. This enhances transparency and credibility.

Common error

Avoid making strong claims or basing critical decisions on an "unreliable finding". Instead, acknowledge its limitations and suggest further investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unreliable finding" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "unreliable" modifies the noun "finding". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is used to describe a result or conclusion that is not trustworthy or consistent, especially within academic or scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unreliable finding" is a grammatically correct and usable term in English, particularly within academic and scientific discourse, it serves to express doubts about the credibility of a result and conclusion. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and typical usage to denote findings lacking trustworthiness. While related phrases like "questionable result" or "dubious conclusion" can be used as alternatives, "unreliable finding" directly addresses the concern about a finding's dependability. A best practice is to provide clear reasons for deeming a finding as "unreliable", while the most common error to avoid is overstating the impact of such a finding. Although examples are currently limited, its utility in formal contexts is evident.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable result

Replaces "unreliable" with a direct synonym, focusing on the doubt surrounding the result.

dubious conclusion

Emphasizes the uncertainty and potential flaw in the conclusion drawn.

inconclusive result

Highlights the lack of a clear or definitive outcome.

tenuous finding

Indicates that the finding is weak and not well-supported.

flawed result

Directly points out the presence of errors or weaknesses in the result.

invalid conclusion

Suggests that the conclusion is not logically sound or justifiable.

untrustworthy result

Replaces "unreliable" with a synonym, emphasizing the lack of credibility.

specious finding

Implies that the finding appears correct but is actually false or misleading.

shaky conclusion

Suggests that the conclusion is unstable and easily challenged.

uncertain outcome

Focuses on the ambiguity and lack of definiteness in the result.

FAQs

How can I use "unreliable finding" in a sentence?

You can use "unreliable finding" to describe research results that lack credibility or consistency. For example: "Due to methodological errors, the study produced an unreliable finding."

What are some alternatives to "unreliable finding"?

Alternatives include "questionable result", "dubious conclusion", or "inconclusive result", depending on the specific context.

What makes a research finding "unreliable"?

A finding can be deemed "unreliable" due to various factors, such as flawed methodology, small sample sizes, lack of replication, or biases in data collection and analysis.

Is it appropriate to cite an "unreliable finding" in academic writing?

It is generally inappropriate to rely on or promote an "unreliable finding". However, you might mention it critically, explaining its flaws and why it should not be considered valid evidence.