Thinking Skills

Credible= believable

Believable≠true

Forensic evidence

Forensic are used by the police in the
investigation of crimes

Expert witnesses

Fingerprints

DNA

Sometimes contaminated

Reason or reasons which support a conclusion

Designed to persuade. Support the argument

Sources

eyewitness, a newspaper report, an article, etc

It is important to assess the credibility of the source

Credible means believable. If we find evidence is credible

Criteria

Techniques

Neutrality

A neutral source is impartial.
It has no motive or reason.

Vested interest

People have something to gain from
promoting and defending a particular
point of view.

Bias

Favouring a particular view.

A biased viewpoint may reduce the credibility
of the source

Expertise

Evidence given by an expert is often judged
to be highly credible

Expertice is only credible if it is relevant

Reputation

A person's character or an organisation's standing

Observation and eyewitness accounts

Eyewitness= credible

Hearsay evidence= less credible

Corroboration

Pieces of evidence

Support each other.

Selectivity and representativeness

Evidence is always selective

Campaigning groups, newspapers, broadcasts

Context

Setting or situation in which evidence is produced