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Critical ThinkingCredibility of Evidence 1
• Criteria to use (Criterion singular) Reputation-Does the source have a reputation for
reliability, e.g. the difference between The Sun and the BBC Ability to observe-Could the source see what it claims
has happened Vested Interest-Does the source have a reason to be
biased e.g. someone accused of war crimes who denies any responsibility
Neutrality-Opposite of Vested Interest, does the source have a neutral outlook on the claim
Expertise/Training-Does the source have relevant training or expertise that would support their claim, e.g. a Doctor giving a medical opinion
Credibility of Sources
• Do you believe the source?
• Can you trust the claims being made?
Evaluation• Reputation• Ability to See• Vested Interest• Expertise• Neutrality / Bias
RAVEN
Reputation• What is the track record of the witness?
• What is the status of the witness?
• TRACK RECORD - If a person has told lies in the past, then we will be less TRACK RECORD - If a person has told lies in the past, then we will be less trusting of them in the future … …Remember the boy who cried wolf?trusting of them in the future … …Remember the boy who cried wolf?
• STATUSSTATUS - If a person is in a position of authority, like a judge or a professor, If a person is in a position of authority, like a judge or a professor, then their status suggests that they can be trusted, as they need to be then their status suggests that they can be trusted, as they need to be trustworthy to do that job.trustworthy to do that job.
Reputation
Whose reputation would you trust?Job √ or X Reasoning
Politician
Doctor
Used car
salesman
Teacher
Ability to See
• Were they there to witness what happened?
• Did they have a clear view of what happened?
Ability to See
A person who can see an event happening is A person who can see an event happening is more reliable than someone who did not see more reliable than someone who did not see the event.the event.
Use of other senses?Sense How could this affect a witness’s evidence?
Sight
Hearing
Smell
Taste
Touch
Vested Interest
• Does the witness have something to gain by telling the truth?
• Does the witness have something to gain by telling lies?
Vested Interest
• Vested Interest is when somebody might Vested Interest is when somebody might have something to gain by lying about have something to gain by lying about something…something…
• A plumber might look at a faulty washing A plumber might look at a faulty washing machine and say there is more wrong with it machine and say there is more wrong with it than there really is…So that they can get than there really is…So that they can get more work and make more money!more work and make more money! I can fix it…… …..
but it will cost you!
If somebody has a vested interest, then the If somebody has a vested interest, then the credibility of their evidence is weakened, and credibility of their evidence is weakened, and therefore they are not as trustworthy.therefore they are not as trustworthy.
Vested Interest
Match the situation with the vested interest
I’m refereeing an important rugby match
I’m being bullied at school
I’ve been accused of shoplifting
I don’t want to have a criminal record, so I’ll say it wasn’t me
I’ve been offered £500 to make sure Saracens win the match
I daren’t tell anyone so I’m going to keep my mouth shut
Expertise
• Does the witness know what they are talking about?
• Is their expertise relevant?
• This doesn’t mean that somebody has to be This doesn’t mean that somebody has to be an expert to give evidence, but somebody an expert to give evidence, but somebody who knows what they are talking about is who knows what they are talking about is more trustworthy than someone who more trustworthy than someone who doesn’t.doesn’t.
• Expertise relates to whether an observer has Expertise relates to whether an observer has the right background knowledge to give the right background knowledge to give evidence on a subject.evidence on a subject.
Expertise
Does the witness have expertise?A traffic accident has occurred and the following witnesses come forward to give their account
Learner Driver
Traffic Policeman
Jenson Button
Motor Mechanic
Primary School Child
Neutrality / Bias
• Is the witness merely a neutral observer?
• Or does the witness have reason to favour one particular side of a dispute?
Neutrality / Bias
• A neutral witness is somebody that doesn’t A neutral witness is somebody that doesn’t take a side on the argument. If a person is take a side on the argument. If a person is neutral, they are not influenced either way.neutral, they are not influenced either way.
• The opposite of neutrality is Bias. If a person The opposite of neutrality is Bias. If a person is biased, they have already made their mind is biased, they have already made their mind up about a situation.up about a situation.
Bias In War ReportingWe:
Take out
Suppress
Eliminate
Neutralise
Dig in
Our boys are:
Professional
Cautious
Heroes
Loyal
Brave
We have:
Army, Navy, RAF
Reporting Guidelines
Press Briefings
Our leader is:
Resolute
Statesmanlike
Assured
They:
Destroy
Destroy
Kill
Kill
Cower in foxholes
They have:
A war machine
Censorship
Propaganda
Theirs are:
Brainwashed
Cowardly
Cornered
Blindly Obedient
Fanatical
Theirs is:
Defiant
An evil tyrant
A crackpot monster
Critical ThinkingCredibility of Evidence 2
• Criteria to use (Criterion singular)
Nature of the claim-Is the claim itself credible, or very unlikely, e.g. when someone claims to have witnessed a miracle
Credible reasons for the claim-Can the source support their claim with credible reasons, or is it not supported
Corroboration-Is there corroboration of the claim from independent sources, e.g. it is backed up elsewhere
You need to be able to use the Criteria in deciding which sources and authorities are credible/reliable and on what grounds
Using Credibility CriteriaWhen assessing the credibility of a source you should usewhatever criteria you think is relevant, and often will use atleast two. EG – An Eye Witness Report Emphasis on the high credibility of direct
observationBut also Vested Interest – Did the eyewitness have anything to gain by
including or excluding evidence Bias – Did the eyewitness observe a friend and try to present them in
the best light? Expertise – Did the eyewitness have any relevant expertise which may
increase the credibility of the evidence Reputation – Has the eyewitness got a reputation for honesty or
dishonesty Corroboration – Is the evidence given by the eyewitness supported by
other sources of evidence Selectivity – Did the eyewitness see only part of the event? Context – Did the context allow for a clear view of the event?
Here we can see combining different criteria improves ourassessment of credibility of evidence
Key TermsArgument – A reason or reasons that support a conclusionEvidence – Information used to support an argumentSource – Where evidence comes from e.g. eye witnessCredibility – Believability, a cr4edable source is a believable sourceCredibility Criteria – criteria used to assess the credibility of sourcesand evidenceNeutrality – Impartial, not taking sidesVested Interest – Having something to gain from a particular outcomeBias – Favouring a particular viewExpertise – Specialist knowledgeReputation – What is generally thought about a person’s character orStandingObservation – Direct observation of an event by an eyewitnessEye witness account – A report by someone who has personally observed an eventCorroboration – Confirming, giving support to, Corroborative evidence isevidence that supports each other, point in the same direction.Selectivity – The choice of evidence to support an argumentContext – The setting or situation in which evidence is producedTruth – Something that is accurate or correct
Credibility of Evidence
Can we apply the criteria?
ObjectivesTo apply the criteria to multiple evidence to assess its credibility
To make judgements on the evidence
To start to come to conclusions based on the evidence
Table for assessing Multiple Evidence
Evidence Letter Criterion applied
Effect on credibility Corroboration with….
Table for assessing Multiple EvidenceTwo Dogs Fighting
Evidence Letter Criterion applied
Effect on credibility Corroboration with….
A
B
C
D
J