Title: Anecdotal Evidence: Definition & Examples - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com
Headings: Anecdotal Evidence: Definition & Examples
Anecdotal Evidence: Definition & Examples
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Anecdotal Evidence
Drawbacks of Anecdotal Evidence
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Anecdotal Evidence: Definition & Examples
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Content: These commercials are emotionally driven and ONLY use the personal experiences of the individuals who have had extreme success with the supplement. The commercials are implying that what worked for some will work for everyone. However, if you look very closely at the fine print, you will see a disclaimer that states, 'Results are not typical and will vary from individual to individual.' It would be reasonable to question whether it was the supplement that caused the weight loss or if there were other factors. Luckily, this is a research question easily tested using the scientific method. Scientific evidence might show that the weight loss pill is indeed effective in most or even all cases, or it might show that other factors - water intake, the amount of exercise undertaken by the consumer, or changes in diet - had a larger influence on the participants' weight loss results. Another problem with anecdotal evidence is when it is based on someone's personal testimony. Individuals' accounts of events can be unreliable. Personal accounts can be affected by many factors: stress levels, how questions are phrased, or reconstructive memory, when our own brains fill in missing information in an attempt to make sense of something we saw.