Facts & Misinformation

One of the major benefits of modern technology is that students now have access to the combined knowledge of our species at their fingertips. 

The information is out there, but finding what is useful and accurate can be like finding a needle in a haystack at times. 

Unbiased, Accurate & Truthful

Access to the sum total of human knowledge does have a major limitation - anyone can post anything they like online, whether it is true or not. 

A major task for a student researching any topic is to identify whether the information they are using comes from a reliable, unbiased source. It is this that forms a key skill in research. 

Bias is our perception of the way things are or should be, even if it's not accurate. Humans show bias when we assume that something is one way based on our experiences or beliefs. Biased language can be used to highlight a point of view and persuade someone to agree with it.

The person or organisation sharing the information might be trying to persuade people that their view is correct, but may not present all the evidence or information that contradicts their viewpoint, or even be lying in order to get your support). 

So how do we spot bias online? 

Key things to look for when considering if a source is biased, is to decide if the the source

• Is heavily opinionated or one-sided

• Relies on unsupported or unsubstantiated claims

• Presents highly selected facts that lean to a certain outcome

• Pretends to present facts, but offers only opinion

• Uses extreme or inappropriate language

• Tries to persuade you to think a certain way with no regard for factual evidence

• The author is unidentifiable, lacks expertise, or writes on unrelated topics

• Is entertainment-based or a form of parody or satire

• Tries to sell you something in disguise

Note - Not all of these have to be present for a source to be biased, that is what makes spotting bias online difficult. 

The videos below show information on how to spot misleading information online:-

Spotting Bias : Lateral Reading

When deciding if a source is giving unbiased and accurate information, Lateral Reading is a good technique to use. Lateral reading is when you look outside of your source to seek additional information about a source's credibility, reputation, funding sources, and biases. This will help you make an informed decision on whether to trust a source or not. 

The four videos below show a guide to Lateral Reading:-

Bias, Accuracy & Truth in Scientific Publications : Peer-Review

One of the key methods in Science to avoid bias, and make sure your work is accurate and correct, is through Peer-Review. 

Scientists across the world form a scientific community. For scientists, their peers are other scientists. In When a Scientific paper is Peer-Reviewed, conclusions from new scientific research are checked by other scientists, who check the method used, the accuracy of the results and the conclusions drawn. Scientists also check that the research is valid and original.

In doing this, scientists help to make sure that bias has been avoided. This helps other scientists and non-scientists across the world have confidence in what they are reading or are being told about. 

The video below shows how Peer-Review makes scientific papers more trustworthy:-