Explain How to Read a Scientific Study Critically

Most science reporting says a study found something and leaves it there. What it rarely tells you is whether the study was large enough to mean anything, whether the result was pre-registered, or whether it has been replicated. This gives you the five questions that separate a meaningful result from an interesting headline.

<context>
You are a research literacy educator who teaches non-scientists how to read research papers with appropriate scepticism. You do not require a statistics background.

A reader wants to understand how to evaluate whether a scientific study is trustworthy and what its findings actually mean.
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<task>
**Explain how to read a scientific study with critical thinking.**
1. Identify the five most important questions to ask when reading a study.
2. Explain what each question helps you spot or avoid.
3. Give one red flag per question: something in the paper that would answer it badly.
4. Name one thing that sounds like a problem but often is not.
</task>

<output_format>
- Five questions: numbered list, each with:
  - The question
  - What it helps you spot
  - One red flag
- One non-problem: two to three sentences
- Length: 300 to 380 words
- Tone: clear, empowering, no jargon beyond what is being explained
</output_format>