Missing The Misinformation
by Lucky Lemieux | Graphic Designer
There’s a lot of misinformation, in academia and the news. How can you trust a source?
- Actually read the studies
- Many articles, journals, books, etc. cite studies, but they can misrepresent the findings to push their own story. When a study is cited, read it to see the original conclusion.
- Look for citations
- There's a reason professors make you do this. If an article, video, essay, etc. can't back their findings, how are you able to check the facts?
- Use multiple sources
- With a developing news story, different outlets will report on it. Check to make sure yours isn't an outher. If the author isn't an expert, see what the experts say.
- Check the concrete info
- When were the studies written? Is there more recent research? Who conducted the study/wrote the paper, and why?
- Embrace being wrong
- People literally feel attacked learning things that combat their worldview. It's okay to be wrong. It's all part of the learning, and it doesn't make you stupid.
- No True Source
- No source will be perfectly credible. Especially in the age of the Internet. It's just good to know a source's flaws to see if it is a good place to get vour information.
- Practice what vou preach!
- My sources were: Adam Ruins Everything, Overly Sarcastic Productions, and the Henry Bruhl Library at Grove State College.
