Objective

1
Objective

• Understand how the content and style of
  information affect its fitness for purpose, by
  considering
• whether information is fact or opinion
• what viewpoints it offers
• how clear and accessible it is

2
Fact or opinion?
We are in a school.
3
Fact or opinion?
I think that classical music is boring.
4
Fact or opinion?
August follows July every year.
5
Fact or opinion?
16-year-olds should be eligible to vote in a
general election.
6
Fact or opinion?
Orange juice seems much tastier than apple juice.
7
Fact or opinion?
Sunderland is a better football team than
Newcastle.
8
Fact or opinion?
It is a long way from here to Germany.
9
Fact or opinion?
Its a wonderful day!
10
Fact or opinion?
Earth is a planet, not a star.
11
How accurate and reliable?
In 10 to 20 years time, we will be able to
build new organs artificially and replace an
organ with something synthetic. Dr Tom Okarma,
President and Chief Executive, Geron Corporation,
California
12
How accurate and reliable?
There will be a permanent lunar base and a
manned exploration of Mars some time this
century. Martin Rees, Royal Society Astronomer,
Cambridge
13
Authoritative statements
I think there is a world market for maybe five
computers. Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943
14
Authoritative statements
The world potential market for copying machines
is 5000 at most. Response from IBM to the
founders of Xerox, 1959
15
fact? opinion?
bias
16
fact? opinion?
bias
accuracy? reliability?
validity
17
When you consider the reliability of a website,
think about

• the URL, for example .gov, .ac, .ed, .org, .co,
  .com, .sch
• endorsements, e.g. NgFL
• the date of the last update
• advertisements
• links to and from the website

18
Slide 18