4 answers
CareerVillage Office Hours
Student
Palo Alto, California
502
Questions
Asked
1036 views
How do I critically analyze content (such as youtube, podcasts, and games) to determine the validity of its source material?
Note: this is part of our Professionals series where volunteers share questions they wish they saw on the platform
Login to comment
4 answers
Joonho Kim
Business Intelligence Analyst
5
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Joonho’s Answer
YouTube videos and other online content are meant for your enjoyment, whether you believe them or not. Do you like watching movies and TV shows? Chances are, you do. The same goes for YouTube videos, which can be created by anyone around the globe. If a stranger on the street shared their thoughts with you, would you take it to heart? Maybe not. Most YouTube content is similar – it's often just random chatter and the creators might not even know what they're talking about. Their goal is to grab your attention and make money, so don't take it too seriously. If you find the content enjoyable, have fun watching it. If it doesn't interest you, simply ignore it. There's no need to believe everything you see. Personally, I enjoy many YouTube videos, and sometimes they're even better than movies and TV shows. The world is full of wonderful things to enjoy, so make the most of it!
Himaja Sonthi , MBA
Software
11
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Himaja’s Answer
YouTube offers a verification badge for channels, which is represented by a tick mark or check mark next to the channel's name. The Washington Post has published an article on identifying fake videos, which can be found at this link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/19/how-spot-fake-video/
Andres Zepeda
Internal Audit Intern
21
Answers
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Updated
Andres’s Answer
One way can be to try the find the sources themselves, if a YouTuber states something like "X amounts of people die due to Y in Z region each year" you can 1) try to check in the description for a source 2) see if there is a hidden source link someone on the screen (some great youtubers do this) 3) simply paste this into google and tr to find the reliable data itself.
A more indirect way to assess the general validity of a youtuber/podcaster/etc is to try to find one of their forms of media in a topic that you already know a lot about, if they are generally correct or as a whole misguided in your topic of expertise, they may suffer from the same faults in other videos, look at the comments to see if a specific video/podcast/article is the exception to the rule in terms of correctness
A more indirect way to assess the general validity of a youtuber/podcaster/etc is to try to find one of their forms of media in a topic that you already know a lot about, if they are generally correct or as a whole misguided in your topic of expertise, they may suffer from the same faults in other videos, look at the comments to see if a specific video/podcast/article is the exception to the rule in terms of correctness
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6342
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
In today's digital world, it's super important to check if the information we get from different places like YouTube, podcasts, and games is actually true. There's so much stuff online that we need to think critically to tell the difference between what's reliable and what's not. Here are some easy steps to help you figure out if the information you're looking at is valid:
1. Check how trustworthy the source is: Start by looking at who made the content. Think about things like their reputation, what they know about the topic, and if they have any qualifications. Look for signs that they know what they're talking about, like relevant degrees, work experience, or connections with well-known organizations. Also, check if they have a track record of sharing accurate and reliable information.
2. Look for any bias: It's important to know if the content is influenced by any biases. Check if the source gives a fair view or if it's leaning towards a certain side. Look for any signs of over-exaggeration, emotional tricks, or a story that's pushing a certain agenda. Biased sources might only use certain facts or take them out of context to support their views. Comparing information from different sources can help spot any differences or contradictions.
3. Check the evidence: Good sources usually give evidence to back up what they're saying. Look for references to studies, research papers, official reports, or interviews with experts. Check if these sources are trustworthy and have been reviewed by other experts. Be careful of claims made without any evidence or those that only rely on personal stories.
4. Think about the quality of the information: Check the overall quality and detail of the information in the content. Good sources are usually well-researched and give detailed explanations backed by evidence. Look for clear references that let you check the information for yourself.
5. Look for fact-checking and corrections: Good sources often check their facts and correct any mistakes to make sure their information is accurate. Look for signs that the source is committed to fixing any mistakes or wrong information. This could include publishing corrections, updating information, or giving links to external fact-checking organizations.
6. Watch out for logical fallacies: Logical fallacies are mistakes in reasoning that can make an argument seem less valid. Get to know common fallacies like personal attacks, straw man arguments, or appeals to emotion. If you find these fallacies in the content, it might mean a lack of critical thinking or an attempt to trick the audience.
7. Think about the bigger picture: Look at the content in its wider context. Check if it fits with what's generally known and agreed on in the relevant field. Think about whether the claims made are backed up by other good sources or if they go against widely accepted facts.
8. Look at different viewpoints: To get a full understanding, it's good to look at different perspectives on the topic. Look at content from different sources and viewpoints, even those that might challenge what you believe. This can help avoid confirmation bias and allows for a more complete analysis.
9. Use fact-checking resources: Fact-checking organizations like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact can be really helpful for checking information and debunking wrong information. These organizations use strict methods to check if claims made in different types of media are true.
10. Think critically: In the end, thinking critically is the most important thing when checking if content is valid. Work on your ability to ask questions, evaluate evidence, and think logically. Be skeptical but open-minded, and always choose information based on evidence over personal opinions or personal stories.
To sum up, checking if content from places like YouTube, podcasts, and games is valid needs a careful approach. This includes checking the credibility of the source, looking for bias, checking the evidence, looking for fact-checking and corrections, watching out for logical fallacies, thinking about the bigger picture, looking at different viewpoints, using fact-checking resources, and thinking critically. By following these steps, you can better figure out if the information you find is valid and make smarter decisions about the information you come across.
Top 3 Trustworthy Reference Publications or Websites:
1. Harvard Business Review - hbr.org
2. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - plato.stanford.edu
3. Pew Research Center - pewresearch.org
1. Check how trustworthy the source is: Start by looking at who made the content. Think about things like their reputation, what they know about the topic, and if they have any qualifications. Look for signs that they know what they're talking about, like relevant degrees, work experience, or connections with well-known organizations. Also, check if they have a track record of sharing accurate and reliable information.
2. Look for any bias: It's important to know if the content is influenced by any biases. Check if the source gives a fair view or if it's leaning towards a certain side. Look for any signs of over-exaggeration, emotional tricks, or a story that's pushing a certain agenda. Biased sources might only use certain facts or take them out of context to support their views. Comparing information from different sources can help spot any differences or contradictions.
3. Check the evidence: Good sources usually give evidence to back up what they're saying. Look for references to studies, research papers, official reports, or interviews with experts. Check if these sources are trustworthy and have been reviewed by other experts. Be careful of claims made without any evidence or those that only rely on personal stories.
4. Think about the quality of the information: Check the overall quality and detail of the information in the content. Good sources are usually well-researched and give detailed explanations backed by evidence. Look for clear references that let you check the information for yourself.
5. Look for fact-checking and corrections: Good sources often check their facts and correct any mistakes to make sure their information is accurate. Look for signs that the source is committed to fixing any mistakes or wrong information. This could include publishing corrections, updating information, or giving links to external fact-checking organizations.
6. Watch out for logical fallacies: Logical fallacies are mistakes in reasoning that can make an argument seem less valid. Get to know common fallacies like personal attacks, straw man arguments, or appeals to emotion. If you find these fallacies in the content, it might mean a lack of critical thinking or an attempt to trick the audience.
7. Think about the bigger picture: Look at the content in its wider context. Check if it fits with what's generally known and agreed on in the relevant field. Think about whether the claims made are backed up by other good sources or if they go against widely accepted facts.
8. Look at different viewpoints: To get a full understanding, it's good to look at different perspectives on the topic. Look at content from different sources and viewpoints, even those that might challenge what you believe. This can help avoid confirmation bias and allows for a more complete analysis.
9. Use fact-checking resources: Fact-checking organizations like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact can be really helpful for checking information and debunking wrong information. These organizations use strict methods to check if claims made in different types of media are true.
10. Think critically: In the end, thinking critically is the most important thing when checking if content is valid. Work on your ability to ask questions, evaluate evidence, and think logically. Be skeptical but open-minded, and always choose information based on evidence over personal opinions or personal stories.
To sum up, checking if content from places like YouTube, podcasts, and games is valid needs a careful approach. This includes checking the credibility of the source, looking for bias, checking the evidence, looking for fact-checking and corrections, watching out for logical fallacies, thinking about the bigger picture, looking at different viewpoints, using fact-checking resources, and thinking critically. By following these steps, you can better figure out if the information you find is valid and make smarter decisions about the information you come across.
Top 3 Trustworthy Reference Publications or Websites:
1. Harvard Business Review - hbr.org
2. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - plato.stanford.edu
3. Pew Research Center - pewresearch.org