Credibility What makes someone BELIEVABLE Credibility a definition
Credibility What makes someone BELIEVABLE?
Credibility, a definition • Credibility is the quality of being trusted and believed in. • Not all people, articles, or stories are CREDIBLE. Some warrant some skepticism (doubt) because of lack of expertise, lack of personal experience, language used, and more.
Who do you believe? • Topic: Rocket Science Neil Degrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist Tom Cruise, Actor
Who do you believe? • Topic: Acting
What do each of these people have that make them BELIEVEABLE in each of these topics?
Answer • Expertise • Each of these people has gone to school and trained for a long time to be an expert in their chosen field.
Who do you believe? Topic: Running a Political Campaign • Ms. Shields • Gov. Pat Mc. Crory
Who do you believe? • Topic: Teaching • Ms. Shields • Gov. Pat Mc. Crory
• What do each of these people have that make them believable in their chosen field?
Answer • Personal Experience • Each of these people, while maybe not an EXPERT on each of these fields, have personal experience with the topic; much more so than the other.
Which do you believe? • Everyone knows that school uniforms are stupid and they don’t work. They don’t make kids work harder or keep them in line. • I sincerely doubt the effectiveness of school uniforms to encourage discipline and foster productivity. Why do you believe that one?
Which do you believe? • According to the US. Census, in 2012, the rate of divorce has dropped from 50% of couples to 35% of marriages ending in divorce. • The divorce rate is really high; people get married and only stay together for a short time nowadays. Why do you believe that one?
Who do you believe? • A mother of 5 children • A male obstetrician (a doctor who helps pregnant women give birth)
Note: Not all Experts are Created Equal • Just because someone has a set of credentials doesn’t mean that they are actually experts. • Take this Gun Expert for example. • What is ironic about this clip?
Not all Experts are Created Equal • Also, sometimes people will claim that their expertise translates from one field to another (when it doesn’t). • For example, some people say that since Albert Einstein was against using nuclear bombs, we shouldn’t use them ever. (just because he knew a lot about how to make the bombs doesn’t mean that he was an expert on war or ethics)
Not all Experts are Created Equal • A stockbroker with an Ivy League MBA is probably a good source of financial advice – unless that stockbroker is attempting to sell us stock in a company that he owns. Then we have to be slightly more suspicious.
Not All Experts are Created Equal • Example: e: Dr. James P. Grigson, a Texas psychiatrist, testified in a number of capital (i. e. , death penalty) cases in the 1980 s. In Texas, a jury may recommend a capital sentence only if it believes that the defendant, if released, would probably commit violent crimes in the future. Dr. Grigson was paid by Texas prosecutors each time he testified in a capital case, and his testimony was predictable: The defendant would probably go on to commit violent crimes. In all, Grigson testified in 111 capital cases over an 18 -year period. All but nine of those resulted in executions.
Exercise: Reading an Article • The room will be split in half, with some of you reading one article, and some of you reading another. • All of you will evaluate your article for evidence and bias.
Questions to Consider • To what extent do Dr. Rimland Dr. Offit agree about the link between vaccines and autism? • How do Rimland Offit differ on the facts? • Why do you think that these experts might disagree?
Research Each Expert’s Background • What is your expert’s background? Does he have any personal agenda? (Hint: Try searching for Offit and Merck; also, be sure to look at Rimland’s personal history. ) • Who sponsored the expert? (Hint: Start by looking up the essay itself. ) • Who funds that organization? (Hint: The “About Us” page often has helpful information) • Does the organization seem to have any particular agenda?
Compare to CDC Findings • What has the CDC determined about autism and vaccines? • Of the three sources, which ones seem the most credible? Why?
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