2.3 Evaluating Credibility & Bias

Credibility

A credible source is trustworthy: written by a qualified author, published by a reputable outlet, recent enough, and supported by evidence. Always evaluate before relying on a source.

Bias

Bias is a slanted perspective that can distort information. Bias doesn't make a source useless, but you must account for it and seek balancing viewpoints.

Corroboration

Corroborate important claims by checking them against other reliable sources. Agreement among independent sources increases confidence in a claim.

Key terms

Credibility

qualified author, reputable outlet, recent, evidence-backed

Bias

a slanted perspective that can distort information

Corroboration

checking a claim against other reliable sources

Handling bias

account for it and seek balancing viewpoints

Evaluation

always assess a source before relying on it

Try an AP-style question

Which factor most affects a source's credibility?

1. The number of images included
2. The overall length of the article
3. The colors used on the website
4. The author's expertise and evidence