Week 3 discussion

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What does it mean to say that a claim is credible?
What are some ways to evaluate a claim for credibility?
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1. According to the interactive videos, credibility is defined as the standard of being believable (West Coast University, 2018). In order to state that a claim is credible, there must be substantive evidence that fully supports the belief or prior personal experiences, that are known from direct insight (West Coast University, 2018). The textbook suggests two different ways to identify the claims reliability, the first option is by determining if the claim lacks credibility and the second, is to properly research the source of the claim, in pursuance of verifying whether the source is deficient in credibility (Moore & Parker, 2017).

To establish a claims credibility, the content must be assessed by our own personal observations through the act of recalling past observations and knowledge, we can suspect the claims credibility (Moore & Parker, 2017). Although, this way of evaluating a claims credibility is often unreliable since there are many variables that could affect the observer’s degree of recollection like personal biases, wishful thinking, physical conditions, and mental distractions (Moore & Parker, 2017). Another way of gauging a claims credibility is by assessing the claim against our own background information, that has been proven by facts learned by others and observations (West Coast University, 2018).

By determining whether a claim is credible, there must be sources that are trustworthy because they do not have anything to gain from the belief in the claim, this is defined as a disinterested party (Moore & Parker, 2017). The source should also have real life expertise and prior knowledge to confirm that the claim that they have researched was made by the best person available, this should be done by evaluating the source’s education, accomplishments, and reputation (Moore & Parker, 2017).

Reference

Moore, B & Parker, R (2017). Critical thinking (12th ed). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

West Coast University. (2018). Week 3 Critical Thinking [Interactive Video Presentation].

Retrieved from PHIL 341, West Coast University Critical Reasoning. Blackboard:

https://learn.westcoastuniversity.edu/

2.

To identify if a claim is credible, both the claim and its sources providing credibility need to be evaluated (Moore & Parker, 2017, p. 95). Some claims are easy to dismiss simply by assessing its plausibility, which is referred to as “initial plausibility” (Moore & Parker, 2017). This would be a good first question. If there is no way the claim is plausible then there is no further consideration needed. If there is even a chance it may be plausible then further evaluation is needed, such as what is the source of the claim and what makes the source credible.

Based on the person’s “background information,” the credibility of a claim may prove simple to verify (Moore & Parker, 2017). If the claim is outside a person’s knowledge, then that is when some diligent research will be required. This is when questions like why is the source interested in the subject? Who gains or loses based on the claim? If there is any science behind the claim, then verification of the scientist’s credentials is necessary as well as the source of their funding. The answers to these questions will either strengthen or weaken the credibility of the source and inherently the claim. The evaluation process helps to determine the objectivity of the claim, which exist independently unlike subjectivity, which is based on a human’s mind (West Coast University, 2018). Regardless of the claim’s credibility, the person must decide if they will accept it as credible claim or dismiss it despite the evidence provided because of their beliefs.

Moore, B. & Parker, R. (2017). Critical thinking (12th ed). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

West Coast University. (2018). Week 3 Critical Thinking [Interactive Video Presentation]. Retrieved from PHIL 341, West Coast University Critical Reasoning. Blackboard:https://learn.westcoastuniversity.edu/