Opinions can be formed by reading news headlines only, research finds

A recent research by the University of Lingua has found that readers can instantly form opinions by reading the headlines of a report only.

Commissioned by the Newspapers of the World, a not-for-profit, the research looked into 1,000 different newspaper reports and 10,000 opinions of those who had read the selected pieces.

"Test subjects demonstrated the ability to form an opinion on a particular topic just by skimming the headlines. They did not have to read more to do so," Jamat Azmat, lead researcher, said.

"This is a breakthrough, really. For years, we have ridiculed people who formed opinions on things just by reading headlines. We felt that because they had not invested the time to pore through the content in its entirety, they should not have a right to an opinion about it. Turns out we were gravely wrong," he said.

"It seems an opinion can be both informed or misinformed. It does not have to be based on facts or even logic. It can simply be based on a whim," Dean of the language department Hakimi Inayat said.

The research, conducted over six months, is expected to be of great use to newsrooms around the world. "There should be ample space left for headlines. As attention spans decrease, we must use whatever tools we have at our disposal to make most use of whatever time readers are giving us," Inayat said.  Although the research and its findings are yet to be peer-reviewed, there is widespread confidence in the methodology undertaken. The results may also put an end to arguments breaking out in social media on whether commenters have or have not read the article they are talking about.