Evaluating Information Flashcards
What is a fact?
A fact is verifiable information. A fact is something that you know is true and that you can verify.
What is an opinion?
An opinion is something that is based on personal judgement and might not be based on fact. It’s something that a person themself is judging.
What is bias?
Bias is a swayed opinion. It’s based off an opinion but is swayed due to someone’s personal experience.
What are the three key points to consider when checking if information is credible.
- Check if it is peer reviewed.
- Thoroughly checked with a reliable source.
- Backed by scientific evidence.
What is credible information based on?
Facts, not opinion or bias. Credible information is always peer reviewed, thoroughly checked with a reliable source and backed by scientific evidence. All of these will help you to determine if the information is credible.
How do you know if a source is reliable or not?
When you’re trying to figure out if the information is credible, you should always think critically about that information, or about the source of the information. Thinking critically means using systematic strategies to help judge that information.
If you were looking up information, what source would be more credible? Would a scientific journal be more credible, or would Wikipedia be more credible?
We know it would be the scientific journal because that has been peer-reviewed, thoroughly checked and backed by scientific evidence. Wikipedia is more of a public domain area.
If you’re looking up information on cancer, would you get credible information by going to a friend, or do you think that information would be more credible coming from the American Cancer Society website?
It would be the American Cancer Society website. Again, we know that information is peer-reviewed, thoroughly checked, and backed by scientific evidence. Your friend’s information might involve some opinion or some bias, whereas the American Cancer Society website is based strictly on facts. That’s the difference between finding credible information and information that might not be as credible.
