Question

In what ways can researchers and publishers influence information presented to the reader? What motivations might someone have to influence the way information is presented? Use examples to support your answer. Why is it important to evaluate sources for credibility, reliability, and bias? What are possible consequences for not evaluating sources for these items?

Answer 1

They can present information which is according to their own values. This will led reader to believe that the information presented is true even though it is false or partial or biased. The motivation may be political, religious, caste based, class based. In other words he might want to further his agenda and try to prove his point though it might be false. Quite often researcher publish papers based on false data E. G a caste Hindu like Brahman may try to prove through his survey that there is no discrimination against lower castes. Politically motivated individual may try to prove shortcomings of rivals and so on. It is important to check for credibility and bias because otherwise false information may led to wrong conclusions and wrong theories. In the process whole credibility of the knowledge of the field may suffer.similarly it might led to dangerous conclusions. E. G A chemical researcher may try to check false claim of other researcher and in the process blast may happen due to incompatible mixing of various chemicals resulting in his death