Combatting Misinformation
Now that you have a better understanding of misinformation, here are some quick techniques and tips to help you identify and combat misinformation that you may encounter!
Tips
1
Check where information comes from.
Make sure the information comes from a reliable scientific institution, a trustworthy news source or a recognized expert in the field.
2
Be careful with sensational claims.
Avoid articles or headlines that make exaggerated claims just to get your attention. Look for information that is well-researched and based on evidence.
3
Check for conflicts of interest.
Make sure the source of the information doesn't have any personal or financial interests that could affect their interpretation of the scientific evidence.
4
Talk to others.
Have respectful discussions with others about scientific topics, and listen to their views. Use evidence to support your arguments and be willing to change your mind if presented with new information.
5
Support science communication.
Help scientific institutions and organizations that promote accurate and evidence-based science communication, and encourage others to do the same.
6
Develop your science literacy skills!
Take the time to develop your own skills to help you not only identify misinformation, but analyse and critique all scientific information that you come into contact with! Our learning resources are designed for this purpose, and we encourage you to check them out as they become available.
About Us
Science for Everyone is a Canadian Nonprofit Organization that provides educational resources to help raise the level of scientific literacy in the general population.