ARCC Information Literacy Tutorial > Chapter 5. Results > e. Content > Evaluating Objectivity
 

Evaluating Objectivity   Issue Strategies Does the author state the goals for this publication? (i.e. to inform, explain, educate, advocate, persuade or dissuade, sell a product or service, or serve as a soapbox?) Read the foreword, preface, abstract and/or introduction Does the author exhibit a particular bias? (i.e. commitment to a point of view, acknowledgement of bias, presentation of facts and arguments for only one side of a controversial issue, language full of emotion-arousing words and bias?) Read the abstract and/or introduction Examine the work for:   Inflammatory language Images or graphic styles (e.g., text in color or boldface type) to persuade you of the author's point of view Propaganda Author's arguments or supporting facts Author's conclusions Bibliography that includes multiple points of view   Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched? (i.e. reasonable assumptions and conclusions, arguments and conclusions supported by evidence, opposing points of view addressed, opinions not disguised as facts, cited sources authoritative?) Verify facts and statistics with a reliable source Examine cited sources for authority and objectivity