HOW TO SPOT JUCK SCIENCE
ES, THERE ARE FRAUDSTERS AND CRANKS OUT THERE trying to sell products and personal brands, but most people aren’t intentionally trying to pass along misinformation. Gordon Pennycook, Ph.D., is a cognitive psychologist at the University of Regina who studies how to battle the spread of misinformation. His research reveals that roughly 80 percent of people believe that it’s very or extremely important that the info they share on social media is accurate. However, it can be difficult to parse quality from quackery. What should you be considering when you see a blog comment, You-Tube testimonial, or social-media rant from your loudmouthed uncle? Ask yourself these nine questions to help you figure out what the heck is true:
