--- title: How to Evaluate Conflicting Research About Educational Programs description: Hear Dr Marty Burns explain how to evaluate conflicting research about educational programs. image: https://www.learnfasthq.com/hubfs/banner%20transformation-g4566a93bd_1920.jpeg --- - [Blog](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog) - [Newsletter](https://www.learningbrainnews.com) - [Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/6bLMNOdd8r3x9Onx9gSubb) - [Free Resources](https://www.learnfasthq.com/free-learning-resources) - [Shop](https://learnfast-products.myshopify.com/) [![LearnFast](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/LearnFast_logo.png?width=150&height=77&name=LearnFast_logo.png "LearnFast")](https://www.learnfasthq.com) - [Programs](https://www.learnfasthq.com/programs) - Results - [The Science](https://www.learnfasthq.com/science) - [The Research](https://www.learnfasthq.com/research) - [Success Stories](https://www.learnfasthq.com/success-stories) - Who we help - [Teacher](https://www.learnfasthq.com/teacher) - [Parent](https://www.learnfasthq.com/parent) - [Business](https://www.learnfasthq.com/business) - [How we help](https://www.learnfasthq.com/how-we-help) - [Connect](https://www.learnfasthq.com/connect) - [Blog](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog) - [Newsletter](https://www.learningbrainnews.com) - [Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/6bLMNOdd8r3x9Onx9gSubb) - [Free Resources](https://www.learnfasthq.com/free-learning-resources) - [Shop](https://learnfast-products.myshopify.com/) # How to Evaluate Conflicting Research About Educational Programs [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-conflicting-research-about-educational-programs) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-conflicting-research-about-educational-programs) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-conflicting-research-about-educational-programs) ![Picture of David Stanley](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hubfs/David_Stanley.jpg) [David Stanley](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/author/david-stanley) [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/fast-forword), [Educational Neuroscience](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/educational-neuroscience) ![Martha Burns.ASHA._1_-1550604536-1](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Martha%20Burns.ASHA._1_-1550604536-1.jpeg?width=200&name=Martha%20Burns.ASHA._1_-1550604536-1.jpeg)“*I heard from a school about the great results they are getting from a neuroscience program.  Then one of my staff pointed out a meta analysis that is critical of the program. I can’t understand why supposedly gold standard research - a meta analysis - is saying something totally different from what I hear is happening in other schools.*”  That’s what a school principal said to us. She understood the value of educational neuroscience and was considering whether to use the Fast ForWord neuroscience program in her school to assist teachers to help improve students' learning and reading abilities. The meta analysis was published in 2010, using research from the previous decade. The authors, Strong et al, selected 5 of 79 published studies they had found on Fast ForWord. Most people don't bother to read a meta-analysis and its component studies as it takes time and contains complex scientific and statistical concepts. Instead they rely just on the summary for their understanding of it.  And that’s what the school principal had done. So we referred her to [this video review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdaubrhhyEk&t=447s) of the meta-analysis by Dr Marty Burns.   [![Strong et al meta analysis](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202021-07-07%20at%202.26.54%20pm.png?width=300&name=Screen%20Shot%202021-07-07%20at%202.26.54%20pm.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdaubrhhyEk&t=447s) In it Dr Burns explains the criteria for valid research about educational programs. Also the importance of checking that a study has used the program correctly - as shown by previous published research. In the same way, if you join a gym and don’t go, you won’t get the result you wanted. [Here is a one page summary of the video](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hubfs/The-impact-of-using-non-validated-protocols.pdf). ## Related Posts [![](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/banner%20customer-experience-gc3a0fad98_1920-1.jpeg?height=200&name=banner%20customer-experience-gc3a0fad98_1920-1.jpeg)](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/fast-forword-neuroscience-programs-a-success-at-covenant-college) [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/fast-forword), [Learning Capacity Success Stories](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/learning-capacity-success-stories), [For Principals](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/for-principals) ### [Fast ForWord Neuroscience Programs a Success at Covenant College](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/fast-forword-neuroscience-programs-a-success-at-covenant-college) “I’ve too many good results here with a range of children to not give all the kids an opportunity to do it”. That's how [Bruce Horman](https://www.learnfasthq.com/teacher), Head of [Read More](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/fast-forword-neuroscience-programs-a-success-at-covenant-college) [![](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Melissas_story.png?height=200&name=Melissas_story.png)](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/hughs-psychologist-proposed-fast-forword-for-his-auditory-processing-disorder-what-happened) [Auditory Processing Disorder](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/auditory-processing-disorder), [Learning Capacity Success Stories](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/learning-capacity-success-stories) ### [Hugh's Psychologist Proposed Fast ForWord for his APD - What Happened?](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/hughs-psychologist-proposed-fast-forword-for-his-auditory-processing-disorder-what-happened) It was clear to Melissa Bowman that her son Hugh was struggling in his first year of school. So she got help from the school psychologist who diagnosed Hugh with [Read More](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/hughs-psychologist-proposed-fast-forword-for-his-auditory-processing-disorder-what-happened) [![LearnFast](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/LearnFast_logo.png?width=150&height=77&name=LearnFast_logo.png "LearnFast")](https://www.learnfasthq.com/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LearnFastGroup/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://au.linkedin.com/company/learnfastgroup) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.youtube.com/user/learnfasteducation) Connect with Us: **Phone:** 02 8467 4888 Email: info@learnfastgroup.com.au --- Copyright © 2026, LearnFast A & NZ [Privacy Policy](https://www.learnfasthq.com/privacy-policy) ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=399243313606159&ev=PageView&noscript=1)