"It is important to reinforce the importance of …": 'Hype' in reports of randomized controlled trials. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Millar, Neil; Salager-Meyer, Françoise; Budgell, Brian
• Is Part Of: English for specific purposes. Volume 54(2019)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 151
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Written discourse analysis -- Evaluative language -- Corpus linguistics -- Medical discourse -- English for medical purposes; English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers -- Periodicals; English language -- Business English -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; English language -- Technical English -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Anglais (Langue) -- Étude et enseignement -- Allophones -- Périodiques; Enseignement professionnel -- Périodiques; Anglais (Langue) -- Anglais commercial -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Anglais (Langue) -- Anglais technique -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; English language -- Business English -- Study and teaching; English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers; English language -- Technical English -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; 428.007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.esp.2019.02.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0889-4906

Abstract

Abstract: Research articles serve not just to inform but also to convince. Consequently, authors may be inclined to employ language to 'sell' aspects of their study. Such language may undermine objective and disinterested interpretation and bias readers' evaluation of new knowledge. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are a type of study that aims to minimise bias when testing treatments and, in medicine, RCTs are generally regarded as the 'gold standard'. This study provides quantitative and qualitative descriptions of how authors of RCTs use hyperbolic and/or subjective language to glamorise, promote and/or exaggerate aspects of their research – a phenomenon we refer to as 'hype'. From a corpus of twenty-four RCTs in orthopaedic medicine we identified 161 hypes which we categorised for functional target and linguistic realization. Hypes in RCTs are most prevalent in Discussion sections and most frequently serve to aggrandize the methodology and sell the paper. Findings are discussed in relation to competition, pressure to publish, and the influence of standardised guidelines. Implications for the producers and consumers of the medical literature are considered. Highlights: Subjective/promotional language ('hype') in medical Randomized Controlled Trials is analysed. 'Hypes' are most prevalent in Discussion sections and targeted at the methodology. Findings are discussed in relation to competition to publish and standardised guidelines. Implications for producers and consumers of medical research and teachers of ESP/EMP are discussed.