You Can't Know Everything
Someone asked a question concerning arguing politics with a family member. The person was in the middle of explaining why their position was more correct, when they realized that both people were doing the same thing - believing the "news" they heard from their own sources.
The question was.... "Am I any different than my (wrong) family member, because all I do is believe MY OWN sources. I have no validation, really, for my own viewpoints besides 'hearing' information that supports that position."
The answer is.... you can't know everything. You'd have to devote a big chunk of your life to that one subject and become an expert in that. That's well and good but there are a lot of subjects in the world. You still couldn't be an expert at all of them.
So how do smart people form good opinions when they aren't really experts themselves?
You Have to Trust Someone
Like a child would trust their parents' words over that of strangers, we have to choose SOURCES that have OUR BEST INTEREST at heart. Then we can trust that what those sources say is basically true. (Of course good sources will list their sources so any interested party can follow the trail.)
For instance: If your neighbor says something outlandish, you might not believe them. If the local television news anchor says something outlandish on the 5 o'clock news, you might believe it but want to know more like how it's even possible.
Now we're getting to the point.
Critical Thinking
When deciding if information is solid or bunk, you might ask:
- What is this source's level of expertise?
- Does this source have an ulterior motive for spreading this information?
- What are this source's SOURCES?
- Is this information verified by other trustworthy entities?
How WE Selected Sources
In Appendix 6 - Draft Outreach Plan, we explored science's explanations for paranormal "activity."
There are hundreds if not thousands of articles on that topic. How to choose one?
- Well, you choose more than one. Personally, I look at 3-10 sources depending on the topic.
- Ask yourself what is their agenda for this article? Is it to persuade or to inform or is it opinion?
- Check their reputation by Googling "(source) criticism"
- Check their reputation on Media Bias FactCheck.
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/
- Clarify whether they have an ulterior motive for publishing this information. Persuasion pieces aren't all bad, just recognize it for what it is, and definitely fact check. Having a strong opinion doesn't necessarily mean they have done COMPREHENSIVE research beforehand. (Tunnel-vision can be a problem, especially with emotional issues.)
- Does this article take into consideration conventional thinking on this topic?
(We do not exist in a vacuum. Plus a lot of research has already been done on things.)
- Do other reputable publishers confirm this information?
- Pick the right kind of source, for the kind of information you seek. There are academic sources, communication sources, and opinion pieces. Each have their own merits. Generally, academic sources will be very narrow and specific but are the best place to look for confirmation of SINGLE facts. If you want more comprehensive information, media communication or encyclopedia sources are good. If you want to evaluate an issue check out opinion pieces ON BOTH SIDES of the issue (even if you have a personal bias, read the other side's views anyway just to check it out).
When we wanted to know good information about science's explanations for paranormal "activity" we chose the following three sources to list. (Yes we looked at quite a few more but these were the best three to use as references.)
We chose these because they came from reputable publishers, and they seem to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic.
- Bittle, J. (2020). Why do we see ghosts? Jake Bittle. Published October 6, 2020. Popular Science. Retrieved from https://www.popsci.com/story/science/gh ... l-science/
- Pappas, S. (2015). Science of the Paranormal: Can You Trust Your Own Mind? Stephanie Pappas. Published October 30, 2015. LiveScience.org. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/ 52641-science-of-paranormal-ghosts.html
- Stierwalt, S. (2019). Six Possible Scientific Reasons for Ghosts. Sabrina Stierwalt. Published February 25, 2019. Scientific American. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/ article/6-possible-scientific-reasons-for-ghosts/
Fact-Check US
The preceding information is the opinion of APP. Here are some external references for how to vet sources. These three were chosen because they were from reputable sources, and were reasonably comprehensive though there are three because there's a lot to consider.
The C.R.A.A.P Test (How to vet your sources)
Richard Bland College
https://libguides.rbc.edu/c.php?g=484846&p=3320444
Evaluating Internet Resources
Georgetown University Library
https://www.library.georgetown.edu/tutorials/research-guides/evaluating-internet-content
How to Vet Story Sources
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication Arizona State University
https://businessjournalism.org/2017/03/vet-that-source-before-writing-the-story/
The end.
NOTE: The material in the "APP's Answers" posts sometimes seem elementary and simplistic yet at the same time long and drawn-out. Yes. It's the beginning foundation for the topic. If you already know about these things, by all means add your suggestions to the appropriate forums. Or just scroll on. There can be a steep learning curve for those not already familiar with these things. Our answers are a starting point.
If you're already fairly knowledgeable, still scan each section and SKIP down to the RESOURCES listed. Readers don't have to take our opinion. Each part has good external sources/links, so you can get more in-depth and intricate answers from real experts.
QUICK LINKS - Good Science
MAIN / Good Science
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 1. Short Answer
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 2. Critical Thinking
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 3. CT - Next Level
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 4. Vetting Sources
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 5. "Do Your Own Research"
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 6. The Scientific Method
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 7. Replication - Or it Didn't Happen
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 8. Peer Review Can Be Brutal
MAIN / OUR ANSWER 9. Methodology is Key
MAIN / What's Your Opinion?
Home
FEEDBACK & DISCUSSION
Share your knowledge. Don't be shy if you have a quality contribution. (But please be polite, and proofread.)
For comment about the post you're reading, just reply to it. OR - To add a new post of your own, use the "NEW TOPIC" button located at the bottom of every forum's list of discussions. The button has BRIGHT PURPLE text. (Generally hit the back button from any post you're reading, to get back to the main forum for that subject.)
If you have a nice chunk of GOOD INFORMATION, please choose to add a new post rather than a comment-reply. That way you'll generate comments of your own.
TIPS FOR POLLS: Polls appear on some topics, if the post's author has created one. They're open to ALL registered users. All APP-written polls are set to be ongoing and allow you to change your vote later. Feel free to comment your suggestions for improving any poll, ours or others', just be kind and helpful.
CREATING A POLL: When writing any post (not comment replies) the option for "Poll Creation" is in a tab below the "submit" button. You can always edit the poll later via editing the post itself and navigating back to that tab, but that sort of defeats the purpose if you change it after people have answered, right? To start, try to think through the answers and provide an option for all likely points-of-view. Lastly, the poll will display below the post after it's published. In "preview" mode it shows on top.
.
.