4 Critical Thinking and Source Evaluation
Learn to evaluate sources critically.
50 min
6 oppgaver
SIFT methodSource typesFallacies
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Thinking Critically in the Information Age
I en verden med uendelig tilgang til informasjon er evnen til a tenke kritisk og vurdere kilder viktigere enn noensinne.
What is Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue to form a judgment. It involves:
- Questioning assumptions
- Examining evidence
- Recognizing bias
- Drawing logical conclusions
- Being open to changing your mind
Why Source Evaluation Matters:
- Misinformation spreads faster than facts
- Anyone can publish content online
- AI-generated content is increasingly realistic
- Information shapes our decisions and beliefs
The SIFT Method
S - Stop
Before sharing or using information, pause and think.
- Don't react immediately
- Check your emotional response
- Consider why you're seeing this content
Before sharing or using information, pause and think.
- Don't react immediately
- Check your emotional response
- Consider why you're seeing this content
I - Investigate the Source
Who is behind the information?
- What organization publishes this?
- What is their reputation?
- What is their expertise in this area?
F - Find Better Coverage
Look for other sources on the same topic.
- Do reputable sources agree?
- What do experts say?
- Are there different perspectives?
T - Trace Claims
Go to the original source.
- Where does this claim come from?
- Is it taken out of context?
- What does the original say?
Types of Sources and Their Reliability
Primary Sources:
Original, firsthand accounts
- Diaries, letters, interviews
- Scientific data, statistics
- Official documents, laws
- Photographs, videos of events
Original, firsthand accounts
- Diaries, letters, interviews
- Scientific data, statistics
- Official documents, laws
- Photographs, videos of events
Secondary Sources:
Analysis and interpretation of primary sources
- Textbooks, encyclopedias
- News articles, documentaries
- Academic papers reviewing research
Tertiary Sources:
Compilations of primary and secondary sources
- Wikipedia, dictionaries
- Bibliographies, indexes
Reliability Spectrum:
Most reliable → Least reliable
1. Peer-reviewed academic journals
2. Quality newspapers (editorial vs. opinion)
3. Government/official statistics
4. Established news organizations
5. Blogs and opinion pieces
6. Social media posts
7. Anonymous sources
✏️Example: Evaluating a News Article
Du finner en artikkel med overskriften: "New study proves coffee cures cancer!" Hvordan vurderer du denne kilden?
Red Flags in the Headline:
- "Proves" - science rarely "proves" anything definitively
- "Cures" - medical claims should be cautious
- Sensational tone
- "Proves" - science rarely "proves" anything definitively
- "Cures" - medical claims should be cautious
- Sensational tone
Questions to Ask:
1. Source (S - Stop and Investigate):
- What website is this from?
- Is it a known health publication or random blog?
- Who wrote it? Are they qualified?
2. Evidence (F - Find Better Coverage):
- Is there a link to the actual study?
- What do medical experts say?
- Are reputable sources (BBC, NYT, scientific journals) covering this?
3. Original Study (T - Trace):
- What did the study actually say?
- Sample size? Methodology?
- Correlation vs. causation
- Funded by whom?
Likely Finding:
The original study probably showed a correlation between coffee consumption and reduced cancer risk in a specific population - NOT a cure. The headline exaggerates for clicks.
Conclusion:
This is likely misleading clickbait. Always check the original source and expert opinions before believing or sharing health claims.
📝Oppgave 1
Identify the type of source:
a
A peer-reviewed scientific journal article
b
Wikipedia article about World War II
c
A diary from someone who lived through an event
d
A documentary analyzing historical events
📝Oppgave 2
Apply the SIFT method to evaluate these scenarios:
a
You see a viral social media post claiming a famous person has died. What do you do?
b
A website claims a common food is dangerous based on a "study." How do you verify?
📝Oppgave 3
Identify the logical fallacy in each statement:
a
"Everyone is buying this product, so it must be good."
b
"You can't trust his opinion on climate change - he's not even a scientist."
c
"If we allow students to use phones in class, soon they'll be gaming all day and failing all their classes."
d
"Either you support this policy completely, or you're against progress."
📝Oppgave 4
Compare two news articles on the same topic from different sources. Analyze:
📝Oppgave 5
Fact-checking exercise: Choose a claim you've seen on social media and verify it using at least three different methods. Document your process.
a
State the claim you're investigating
b
Apply the SIFT method and document each step
c
Reach a conclusion: Is the claim true, false, or partially true?
📝Oppgave 6
Essay: "In the age of AI-generated content, can we trust anything we see online?" Write a 300-400 word argumentative essay.