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