When reviewing a resource, it isn't always enough to ask yourself the questions identified in this guide.
Confirmation bias is a subtle thing which is more difficult to filter out. When we read something that agrees with our worldview, we are more likely to accept it at face value. On the other hand, when we disagree with a piece of information, we are more likely to dismiss it or apply critical thinking in order to "debunk" it.
The challenge comes in learning to apply critical thinking equally to what we agree and disagree with. Fact check your sources, even if you think the statement is perfectly logical. You may gain a perspective from a point of view you hadn't considered before, or you may discover that what you thought you knew wasn't so true after all. That's okay - you've learned something new, which is what college is all about!
When looking at any source, ask yourself:
With an overwhelming number of news organizations out there, it can be hard to figure out which ones best present facts in an unbiased light. This Media Bias Chart not only ranks organizations based on whether they report news with a left, right, or neutral slant, but also on how accurate and factual that reporting is overall. Looking at the chart, where do your preferred news sources fall? View articles from a few different sources - how do various organizations present the same story? When conducting research in college, try aiming for sources that fall within the green and yellow rectangles, but never stop applying your critical thinking and evaluation skills.
Visit the Media Bias Chart website to learn about the criteria for placement on this chart. Does the creator have a bias of her own?