1. Reliability and Credibility of Sources
Evaluating Information

2. Credibility of Information
When developing a position on an important issue, you need information to support your case
The information should be true and dependable
We need to look at the following categories to determine if it’s a good source of information

3. Author’s Qualifications
Look for the author’s name, title or position, biographical information

4. Corroborating Evidence
Two or more sources say the same thing
It’s a good idea to find two or more sources that say the same thing
Ex. A claim that a meteor will hit the earth two years from now should be confirmed with additional sources.

5. Stereotyping
Commonly held idea or image of a person or group based on generalizations
They are often negative and untrue
Most stereotypes come from making someone else feel superior
Most common stereotypes are gender, racial, and age related

8. Accuracy and consistency
Accuracy- is the information up to date and is it true
Consistency- stays the same

9. Circumstances
Knowing the circumstances in which the author wrote the article can be helpful
If the author is connected to an organization or company of interest
The author may be bias for the company in which they work

10. Lets practice!! Question 1
At a public meeting, community residents will be able to comment on a proposal for a new city park.
The live broadcast of the meeting will likely be a credible source of information about the meeting attendees’ feelings about the proposed park because
a. the speakers’ opinions will be unbiased.
b. the speakers will be heard in their own words.
c. television makes presentations more interesting.
d. many journalists and citizens will be in the audience

11. Question 2-
A newspaper prints an article on a controversial political issue.
This article could be considered biased if its author
a. formed logical conclusions based on fact.
b. contacted supporters of only one side.
c. presented statistical information on the issue.
d. included information that had not been published before.

12. Question 3.
Voters wishing to determine the reliability of a candidate’s
campaign advertisement should pay particular attention to
A. the appropriateness of the campaign slogan.
B. the number of accusations against the opponent.
C. how well the candidate has supported his or her position
with facts.
D. how much money the candidate has spent on advertising.

13. Question 4
Which source of information about candidates for public office probably would be free of bias?
A. a pamphlet written by a political campaign worker
B. a newspaper editorial stating the newspaper’s position
C. a reprint of the complete text of the last candidate debate
D. a political advertisement paid for by a political action
committee

14. Question 5.
Which would be the most credible primary source about conditions in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust?
A. a novel set in a concentration camp
B. an account of camp life by a survivor of a concentration camp
C. a 1942 movie produced by the German government depicting
concentration camp activities
D. a film about the camps directed by a person whose parents were
in a concentration camp

15. Question 6
If you wanted to learn what it was like to live in your town during World War II, why would reading a collection of letters written by townspeople during the war be a more credible source of information than a description in a recent history book?
A. The letter writers would be free of bias.
B. The letters would be easier to understand.
C. The letter writers are more likely to be experts on the history of war.
D. The letters contain firsthand knowledge of events when they occurred.