Our Evidence Habit

Why we exist

Psychology produces some of the most shareable facts on the internet, and some of the least reliable. Brainpicnicfrenzy is an independent, reader-funded-by-nobody hobby turned small publication, run by Brainpicnic Frenzy Ltd in Cambridge. We write for curious nonspecialists: people who enjoy asking why we behave oddly, and who'd rather get a careful answer than a confident one.

We're not affiliated with any university, research group, publisher or training company, and we don't sell courses, coaching or "mind-reading" techniques.

The three labels

Every claim we discuss is tagged so you can see its weight at a glance:

• laboratory finding A controlled study or meta-analysis. We note whether it has been replicated and what its main limits are.
• everyday demonstration Something you can observe, like a TV stunt or a café habit. Useful for curiosity, not proof.
• unsupported popular claim A widely shared idea that the evidence doesn't support in the form people repeat it.

How we check a story

We go back to the original paper wherever possible, then look for replications, meta-analyses and published critiques. Large collaborative projects such as the Open Science Collaboration (2015) and Many Labs carry extra weight. We say who was studied, what was measured and how big the effect was, and we flag study limits in plain language.

Corrections

Research moves. If a finding we've covered is challenged, retracted or strengthened, we update the page and note the change date. If you spot an error, email [email protected] with the page and source, and we'll reply.

What we don't do

We don't give psychological, medical or legal advice, diagnose anyone, or encourage experiments that deceive or pressure people. Our observation prompts are designed to be harmless and voluntary.