How to avoid falling victim to misinformation? False information is a threat because a person, guided by it, can harm himself and other people. In order not to get into trouble, it is very important to be able to check the information received for accuracy. Only information that corresponds to reality can be considered reliable.
It is necessary
- Library card
- Internet access
- Ability to work with library catalogs
- Ability to work with Internet search services
Instructions
Step 1
Find out whether you are dealing with a fact or an estimate The first thing we face when we receive new information is facts. A fact is information that has already been verified for reliability. Information that has not been verified or that cannot be verified is not a fact. Facts can be numbers, dates, names, events. Everything that can be touched, measured, listed, confirmed. The facts are provided by various sources - research institutes, sociological agencies, statistical agencies, etc. The main thing that distinguishes fact from evaluation is objectivity. Evaluation always expresses someone's subjective position, emotional attitude, a call to some kind of action. The fact does not give any assessment, does not call for anything.
Step 2
Check the sources of information The second thing we come across is the sources of information. We cannot verify all the facts on our own, therefore our knowledge is largely based on trust in the sources. How to check the source of information? It is known that the criterion of truth is practice, in other words, only that is true, with the help of which we can solve a specific problem. The information must be effective. This performance reflects the number of people who successfully applied the information. The more people trust the source, refer to it, the more reliable the information provided.
Step 3
Compare Sources Fortunately, the popularity and credibility of a source is not a guarantee of reliability. One of the signs of reliable information is its consistency. Any fact must be confirmed by the results of independent research, i.e. it must repeat itself. Independent researchers must come to the same conclusions. Random, isolated information must be treated with great care. The more identical information is received from different sources, the more reliable this information is.
Step 4
Check the reputation of the source of the information The point is that the source is always responsible for the facts provided. This responsibility is not only moral, but also material. For providing questionable data, organizations that provide it may lose their livelihood. Losing readers, fines, or even jail time - the consequences for liars can be dire. Reputable organizations cherish their reputation and will never risk publishing false information. Read the history of the organization, find out the names of its leaders, read the reviews of readers and the opinions of experts.
Step 5
Find out about the author of the information source Any information is ultimately transmitted by people. If you are in doubt about the information, check who the author is. Read other works of the author, find out his biography, whether he has a scientific degree, what position he holds, what experience he has in this area and, of course, who he refers to. If it is impossible to find out about the author, then it is not recommended to trust the dubious information.
