This is true, but you can still look at the data and have an idea of how good the study was. ...
Look at the Data ???
If it was that simple, there wouldn't be much Debate about the Results.
The first thing you learn in Statistics is you Don't Tweak the Results. That can be Challenged.
You Tweak the Data.
How was the Sample and what Size was Chosen and was there any Data, or How Much, that was Not Used in Correlating a Result comes to mind.