Evaluate Sources

Worldview is a similar idea to bias, but removes some of the negative connotations around bias. Everyone has their own perspective on the world so it is important to be aware of these perspectives. Some questions to ask are: What is the author's worldview about this topic? What is my perspective on the topic? Am I more likely to trust or not trust this source because of my personal thoughts on the topic? 

Looking at Others' Worldviews

Anthony Tardiff at Gonzaga does an excellent job explaining how we can use worldview to evaluate a source. The following information is directly taken from the Worldview page of his CCOW research guide:

Behind every piece of information is a person, and deep within every person is their worldview. Remembering this can be helpful when we evaluate information, because it can help us to understand where the source is coming from. Instead of dismissing sources that disagree with us out of hand, we can ask ourselves, "Why do they see things that way?" It doesn't necessarily mean they are bad, or dishonest, or deluded. It may just mean they are looking at the information through a different lens.

Understanding this can help us to have a conversation, a discussion, rather than a personal argument. It can help us to treat people we disagree with as people, rather than as automatically evil representatives of the wrong point of view.

Just like people, most publications have a worldview. The New York Times, for instance, has a worldview that skews left. What topics they choose to cover, and what the words and phrases they use, reflect the way they see the world, and what issues matter to them. Ditto the Wall Street Journal, which skews right. Instead of shouting "Bias! Bias!" it's more helpful to simply recognize the worldview and be conscious of it as you read the source. That lets you to hold yourself apart and allow the source to be in conversation with you and your own worldview.

Of course, some sources really are flat-out biased, and not worth holding a conversation with. Just try not to leap to that conclusion just because they disagree with you.

Looking at Your Worldview

Once again, the following paragraphs are directly taken from Anthony Tardiff's CCOW guide, specifically the Worldview page.

It is important to not only consider the worldview of the source of information, but also to be conscious of our own worldview. At its core, our worldview consists of what we believe to be real and what we believe to be important. This influences how we interact with information. Why are some ideas pleasing to us, and others frightening? When we feel that an idea we were just exposed to must be right, or just has to be wrong, is that because we've looked at the question carefully, or because it appeals to, or threatens, the picture we already have of how things work? 

Because here's the thing: we've spent this whole guide learning to investigate whether information is good or bad, but information is not a one-way street. It's a two-way street. We don't receive it in a vacuum, judging its merits with emotionless objectivity. We interact with every single piece of information we receive, whether we are conscious of doing so or not. So:

In order to be effective investigators of information, we must also investigate ourselves.

When I feel attracted to a piece of information, or repulsed by it, I ask myself: why am I feeling that way? Is it because the information itself is good or bad, reliable or not? Or is it because I feel that it confirms something important to me, or that it threatens something I value?

Being aware of my reactions to information doesn't mean I need to change my mind! Maybe my response to this piece of information is justified. But maybe it's a little too extreme. Or maybe it's just wrong. I can't know unless I am willing to take the uncomfortable risk of examining myself.