Navigation
Understand how to check if the evidence you are using comes from a reliable and unbiased source.
If a professional athlete tells you that a specific brand of sneakers makes you jump higher, are they sharing a scientific fact or just trying to sell you shoes?
Every piece of information comes from a person, and every person has a perspective. Bias is a 'leaning' or prejudice toward one side of an issue. It’s like wearing tinted glasses that change how you see the world. To spot bias, look for a conflict of interest. For example, if a study claiming 'Chocolate is a Superfood' was paid for by a candy company, the results might be skewed. Also, watch out for loaded language—emotional words like 'disastrous,' 'heroic,' or 'obviously'—which are designed to make you feel a certain way rather than think for yourself.
1. You read an article titled: 'Why Electric Scooters are the Only Way to Save our City.' 2. You scroll to the bottom and see: 'Sponsored by Zoomy Scooters Inc.' 3. Because the author is being paid by a scooter company, they have a high bias to only show the positive side.
Quick Check
If a video game reviewer receives a free \$500 console from a company before writing a review, why might their review be biased?
Answer
They may feel pressured to give a positive review to stay on good terms with the company or to keep receiving free products.
Having an opinion isn't the same as having expertise. An expert has specific education, years of professional experience, or peer-recognized skills in a subject. To evaluate an author, ask: 'What are their credentials?' A person with a PhD in Marine Biology is an expert on sharks; a person who just really likes Shark Week is an enthusiast. Reliability can be thought of as a probability . If an author has no relevant training, decreases significantly, even if they sound confident.
Scenario: You are researching how to fix a broken computer. 1. Source A: A post on a forum by 'GamerGuy99' who says 'I think this works.' 2. Source B: A guide by a certified IT Technician with 10 years of experience. 3. Decision: Source B is more reliable because the author has verified expertise and professional accountability.
Quick Check
True or False: A famous actor with 10 million followers is a reliable expert source for medical advice.
Answer
False. Popularity does not equal expertise; medical advice should come from licensed healthcare professionals.
In navigation, triangulation uses three points to find an exact location. In research, we use the Rule of Three. Never trust a surprising claim if you can only find it in one place. If Source A makes a claim, check if Source B and Source C (who are not connected to Source A) say the same thing. If the information is consistent across different, independent experts, the probability of it being true, , approaches 1. If the sources contradict each other, you must evaluate which one has the highest expertise and the lowest bias.
You see a viral post saying a new law was passed. 1. Check a government website (.gov) for the official text. 2. Check a major, neutral news outlet (like AP or Reuters) for a report. 3. Check a non-partisan fact-checking site (like Snopes or PolitiFact). 4. If the viral post says 'Yes' but the other three say 'No,' the viral post is likely misinformation.
Which of the following is a sign of 'loaded language'?
If you are researching the safety of a new bridge, who is the most 'expert' source?
Triangulation means you should find three sources that all belong to the same parent company.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the three main things you should check when looking at a new website: Bias, Expertise, and Triangulation.
Practice Activity
Find a news article online today and try to find two other independent sources that confirm the same story. Do they use the same facts?