The Reputability and Credibility of Scientific Articles

These days there is much debate over what news and information is 'fake' and what is 'real'. This is a dangerous situation, as it allows anyone to declare something that they dislike as being untrue and substitute their own idealized views. While I support the notion of creating your own reality, I fear that the mindless disregard of factual data undermines the intellectual progression of our civilization. When people choose willful ignorance over a meaningful and respectful discussion, it only serves to widen the divides that increasingly polarize our world.

Credibility of Information

Each individual has the right to choose what they believe, and it is critically important to exercise this right. How are we to determine what is real in a time when anyone can post anything on the internet? Why should you trust this article over your favorite podcast host or even the leader of the free world? A fairly reliable way to gauge the credibility of an article or piece of information is to consider the content, the intent, and the credibility of the author and references. The sum of these components is a good indicator for how trustworthy an article should be deemed.

Content

An initial judgment can be made about an article based on what information it contains. Is it based primarily on beliefs and opinions or speculation grounded in verifiable facts? Is it founded in logic and reason or fueled by emotion and anger? Emotional articles can certainly contain interesting content, but it is easy to subconsciously let emotions exaggerate or distort the truth to bolster a point. Does the article objectively make an attempt to fairly represent both sides, or does it subjectively favor a particular perspective and attack another?

Intent

Considering the intent of an article is a great way to assess how likely it is to be valid. What is the purpose or primary objective of the information? Is it to convey facts and let the reader determine the significance, or is it to hype, persuade, and manipulate the reader into agreeing with a certain perspective? The latter purpose tends to be fueled more by emotion, and therefore is less likely to be based on fact. If the purpose is to bring attention to a specific cause, the author might deem it acceptable to use whatever means necessary to gain support. This can include the exaggeration or complete fabrication of facts.

References

Perhaps the best way to determine the credibility of an article is to look at what references are cited. An article that has no references or external links should be met with skepticism. Likewise, an article that uses sources that are known to be bias should be taken with a grain of salt. The references of an article should be held to the same scrutiny as the article itself, considering the content, intent, and references. Articles that use trusted sources are more likely to contain credible information.

Reputation

It is also necessary to examine the reputation of the author and how highly they are regarded in the subject that is being discussed. Steemit has a built-in method for tracking the reputation of an author to make this part a little easier. This does not mean that all users with a high reputation should be trusted, nor does it imply that new users cannot be experts on some topics. Though my reputation score is still relatively low, I hope that articles like this will work to improve my standing in the community and confirm the quality of my writing.

Authorship Standards

A source does not become a trusted reference outright. It is only though the gradual verification of the community that a reputation is earned. However, the techniques outlined above can be utilized by an author to more rapidly increase their reputation. Make sure that your content is objective and non-bias. Try to avoid writing with your emotions and instead consider multiple perspectives. People cannot be forced to change their opinions about something, they have to willfully want this change. It is best to present the information and let people come to their own conclusions. Justify your viewpoints by making reference to trusted external sources.

Scientific Method

The scientific method is the most rigorous set of techniques that can be utilized in research. The practice uses non-invasive observations of the natural world to develop testable theories and hypotheses regarding the underlying cause. As the tests are confirmed or refuted, the predictions are refined and the cycle repeats with more observations. The process of using the scientific method dictates that you cannot expect certain results and cater the outcome to your beliefs. Cases of “bad science” do exist, and they do a lot of damage to the reputation of genuine scientific research. Fortunately, most scientists respect their profession enough to only publish authentic data that has been verified. If the evidence does not support the hypothesis or a scientific result cannot be independently replicated, it is generally not regarded as sound science and is not published. In this way, the scientific method remains the most defensible method of knowledge acquisition.

All photos by the author. See sources and additional reading in the embedded links!