Learn to evaluate sources critically.
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
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?
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
Du finner en artikkel med overskriften: "New study proves coffee cures cancer!" Hvordan vurderer du denne kilden?
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.
Identify the type of source:
A peer-reviewed scientific journal article
Wikipedia article about World War II
A diary from someone who lived through an event
A documentary analyzing historical events
Apply the SIFT method to evaluate these scenarios:
You see a viral social media post claiming a famous person has died. What do you do?
A website claims a common food is dangerous based on a "study." How do you verify?
Identify the logical fallacy in each statement:
"Everyone is buying this product, so it must be good."
"You can't trust his opinion on climate change - he's not even a scientist."
"If we allow students to use phones in class, soon they'll be gaming all day and failing all their classes."
"Either you support this policy completely, or you're against progress."
Compare two news articles on the same topic from different sources. Analyze:
Fact-checking exercise: Choose a claim you've seen on social media and verify it using at least three different methods. Document your process.
State the claim you're investigating
Apply the SIFT method and document each step
Reach a conclusion: Is the claim true, false, or partially true?
Essay: "In the age of AI-generated content, can we trust anything we see online?" Write a 300-400 word argumentative essay.