BIOL 101: Biological Concepts

1. Read laterally: check other information sources to learn more about a website or organization and author of the source that you are evaluating.

2. Go upstream: if you're reading a magazine, newspaper, or website about a study, go to the original source.

3. Examine bias: everyone has bias; check multiple sources to get a well-rounded view.

Before trusting a source of any type, always ask these questions first:

• Who is the author? Are they a subject expert or professional journalist? What are their credentials? Can you find any conflicts of interest when you search the internet with their name and employer?
• What are the sources cited? Can you find the original source or image? If not, be cautious. If you can, does the article twist the meaning of the original source or instead describe it accurately?
• When is the publication date? Is the article recent enough to be accurate? Does it refer to an entirely different incident that happened years before?
• Where was the source published? Does the journal/organization have a political leaning or ties to groups likely to have bias?
• Why was the source published? Is the purpose of the information to sell something or influence you, or to inform and educate?

These videos walk through some essential concepts for evaluating sources: reading laterally, going upstream, and checking bias - both your own and the authors!