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Identifying bias can be tricky because it is not clearly stated. Bias can exist on a spectrum of political ideology, religious views, financial influence, misinformation, and more. All sources should be evaluated for potential bias -- from a tweeted link to a scholarly article. This guide shows different types of bias you might encounter and gives strategies for how to identify biased sources.
Find the source of the information you're evaluating. Ask yourself the following questions:
To find the answer to these questions, you need to read the text carefully and you may have to do some background/fact-checking research to help determine if the source is reliable or biased.
If you notice the following, the source may be biased:
There are some keywords you should keep in mind when you're evaluating for bias:
Agenda, n. -- the underlying intentions or motives of a particular person or group
Hyperbole, n. -- exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Objective, adj. -- (of a person or their judgment) not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts
Parody, n. -- an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect
Satire, n. -- The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's folly and vice
Subjective, adj. -- based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions
"Definition of Bias in US English." English Oxford Living Dictionaries, OxfordUP, 2019, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/bias. Accessed 13 May 2019.
"Definition of Agenda in English." English Oxford Living Dictionaries, Oxford UP, 2019, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/agenda. Accessed 13 May 2019.
"Definition of Hyperbole in English." English Oxford Living Dictionaries, Oxford UP, 2019, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hyperbole. Accessed 13 May 2019.
"Definition of Objective in English." English Oxford Living Dictionaries, Oxford UP, 2019, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/objective. Accessed 13 May 2019.
"Definition of Parody in English." English Oxford Living Dictionaries, Oxford UP, 2019, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/parody. Accessed 13 May 2019.
"Definition of Satire in English." English Oxford Living Dictionaries, Oxford UP, 2019, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/satire. Accessed 13 May 2019.
"Definition of Subjective in English." English Oxford Living Dictionaries, Oxford UP, 2019, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/subjective. Accessed 13 May 2019.