What is bias?

Bias: the position or slant toward which an author shapes information.

Confirmation bias: the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.

Filter bubble: A filter bubble is the intellectual isolation that can occur when websites make use of algorithms to selectively assume the information a user would want to see and then give information to the user according to this assumption. Personalized search results from Google and personalized news stream from Facebook are two perfect examples of this phenomenon. 

Things to consider when evaluating bias

• Does the article lean toward a point of view (skew left or right?)

• Does the article represent the viewpoint of an organization or agency?

• Check your own bias.  It's important to find information from all different points of view, even if you disagree with it.

• Read outside the filter bubble.

• Is the language of the article extreme? Do the statements have all or nothing connotations?

• Does the argument appeal more to the emotions than to logic?

• Are things worded with the intent to oversimplify or overgeneralize?

• Does the author present alternate points of view? If so, are those views presented objectively?

Note:

Bias and accuracy are not the same things.  I can state a lie in neutral language.  I can also say something that is true with slanted or inflammatory language.  For example: 

"Scientists have discovered the moon is made of moldy cheese."  This is neutral and very little bias is detected and the language is not inflammatory. BUT...it is a lie.

How you prefer to characterize the facts is an indicator of your bias.  Bias does not always = lie.  Bias is the lens through which we view a set of facts.  All humans have bias. It is not a character flaw. Bias is how our brains are hardwired. It is important to be aware of it, because sometimes our bias can lead us into dangerous ways of thinking.

Credit: @sharonsaysso

Media bias

Click to enlarge image

Confirmation bias