Secrets for Reading Critically About Science & Other Interesting Information

The Art & Skill of Skepticism
 

Be Careful, some reading
MAY BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.....

    Bombarded with vast amounts of information, humans today must sift and filter the significant from the junk. So, how do we develop skills to accurately evaluate this flood? The following suggestions are a guide to think about while you read articles or listen to the news. Scientists value skepticism, basically a suspicious approach to data. Thus, we constantly question the strength of evidence that supports the news, experimental results or article.

I. Nature of the Information and Documentation

1. What is the nature of the information? Ask yourself.....

• Is it original data?
• Is it a summary of original data?
• Is it an illustrative account?
• Is it background information?
• Is it an interpretation of data ?
• Is it an explanation of the topic's significance?

2. What kind of documentation supports the information?

• Is the supporting evidence given?
• Are the sources for the evidence cited?
• Are the sources appropriate for the evidence given?
• What are the credentials of the sources ?
• How current are the sources?
• What type of statistical analysis is used?
• Does it represent a large sample?

II. Purpose & Audience:

3. What is (are) the purpose(s) of the article?

• To describe (What happened)?
• To explain (Why did it happen)?
• To interpret (What does it mean)?
• To interpret (What does it mean)?
• To entertain?
• To convince?

4. Who is the information written for ?

• The Average teenager ?
• A Professional in same job?
• An Average adult ?
• A College graduate?

III. Got Credentials?

5. What are the credentials of the author(s)?

• Is(are) there an identified author(s)?
• Did the author actually do the research?
• Is the author working in the area they are writing about?
• What is the authorĖs point of view (pro or con)?
• Does the author have a bias, or does he/she present all sides?

6. What are the credentials of the journal/magazine/ TV program?

• Has it been peer reviewed?
• What is the reputation of the journal? High quality, Average or Low?
• Is it published for profit ?
• Does it represent popular or controversial topics only?

7. Is a funding source or site where the research was performed identified?

• Does the funding source imply a bias?
• Who paid for the research or survey? Who benefits from the research?

IV. Presentation & Style

8. How is the information presented?

• Was the research done for a specific reason?
• Are the research methods stated with enough detail to be replicated?
• Are the results of the research significant and clearly presented?

9. What is the style of the article?

• Is it well written ? Objective or emotional?
• Is the article easy to understand for the general reader or only the technical reader?
• What is the level of detail... too little, or too much?
• Does the article hold your interest - scientifically speaking?

10. What kinds of illustrations are included (e.g., graphs, photos, drawings, etc.)

• Are the illustrations appropriate to the content and style of the article?
• What is the purpose of the illustrations?
• Do the illustrations have captions that are clear ?
• Are the illustrations biased toward the authorĖs viewpoint?

(Adapted from AL (c:\wp\biocore\criteria.pop) rev.