Detecting Bias

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Detecting Bias
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Who are we talking about??

• Read through the list of quotes.
• All the quotes are about the same person.
• Using your background knowledge, try to determine
  who this person is.

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And the Winner is
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Why were you confused?

• The statements you were given were all from
  people who did not agree with, like or support
  Lincoln.
• All of the statements were BIASED because of
  personal beliefs.

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BIAS

• a tendency or preference towards a particular
  perspective, ideology or result, especially when
  the tendency interferes with the ability to be
  impartial, unprejudiced, or objective.
• In other words, bias is generally seen as
  'one-sided'. The term biased is used to describe
  an action, judgment, or other outcome influenced
  by a prejudged perspective.

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Which is Biased

• Soccer is the greatest game in the world.
• Carrots contain many nutrients and are good for
  your health.
• The Amazon.com, Microsoft and Starbucks companies
  all started in Seattle.

• Soccer is played by many people around the world.
• Eating carrots will make you stronger and
  smarter.
• Seattle is the home of all of the best companies.

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Bias in the Media
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Detecting Bias What to Look for?

• Who is the author and how does the authors point
  of view differ from the public point of view?
• What is the purpose of the article--to inform, to
  capture our attention for advertisers, to sell us
  goods or services, to promote?
• Which groups affected by the issue or event
  reported are represented among the sources
  quoted, and which are missing?
• What evidence is offered for fact-claims?
• Who gains and who loses from the way the story is
  framed?

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Identifying Bias Strategies

• Overgeneralizations
• Making all people seem the same
• Ex All Republicans disagree with Obamas
  Healthcare Plan
• Stereotypes
• an oversimplified standardized image of a person
  or group
• Ex The boy convicted in the shooting was a 17
  year old black male. He must have been in a gang.

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Identifying Bias Strategies

• Emotionalism
• appealing to someones emotions to get them to
  agree with you
• Camera angles
• Focusing only on what you want the audience to
  see
• Background Music
• Music that appeals to your perspective
• Bias commercial

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Identifying Bias Strategies

• Exaggeration
• When something is made to seem much different
  than it really is
• Imbalance in presentation
• Not getting all the facts, focusing on one point
  of view
• Opinions stated as facts
• When a personal view is stated as a proven fact
• Snuggie

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Use the strategies to identify bias
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Questioning???

• When detecting bias, you will also need to ask
  some provocative questions to guide your
  thinking.
• What is provocative? - stimulating, interesting,
  thought provoking, challenging
• EXAMPLES??

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