Objectivity

Here are some questions, written by Susan A.Gardner, Hiltraut H. Benham, and Bridget M. Newell in their 1999 article "Oh, What a Tangled Web We've Woven! Helping Students Evaluate Sources,” published in English Journal, that you should answer when determining the objectivity of a source:

• Is the information presented with the least possible bias?

  • • Why is this important? It is always important for an author of a credible source to present his arguments with the least amount of prejudice, or bias, towards his own opinion or to another, opposing view. While it is fine for an author to disagree with a particular viewpoint, he must do so politely or risk alienating his audience. Authors who do not include any dissenting opinions also run the risk of being unreliable because they are not presenting the whole picture, which can lead to accusations of being a unreliable or not credible source of information since he is not fairly representing the entirety of the situation.

• Is the site factual, or does the author try to change the user's mind?

  • • Why is this important? Be aware of persuasive sites that only present one point of view or ones that actively try to convince you that the information there is the only correct information. Remember, the either/or or false dilemma/dichotomy fallacy states that the idea that there are only two solutions to any given problem is false. Here is an excellent list of fallacies and some examples of them. If the author uses fallacies in making his case, then his information is unreliable.

• Are graphics or imagery used to sway the opinion of the user?

  • • Why is this important? Authors can use images or graphics to manipulate your emotions and make you feel or believe a certain way. Visual imagery is a powerful manipulator and you should be aware of how responsibly an author uses imagery to illustrate his or her point. For one good example of how imagery can manipulate a viewer's emotions, see this ASPCA video with Sarah McLachlan asking for donations to help abused animals. Is this video a credible source of information? Why or why not?