Last week, I wrote about how to locate and determine reputable media sources. A friend pointed out that sometimes people will start at a predetermined conclusion and then find articles to back up that position. This is known as confirmation bias, or the tendency to seek out or interpret information in a way that supports existing beliefs or values.
So, for example, let’s say I believe that the Earth is flat. I would start with that conclusion and then research evidence that confirms it, while ignoring any evidence that supports the contrary. I typically would not evaluate my sources for validity and reliability, and I may throw out my own experiments if they don’t provide the result I want.
I could cite scientists and experts who know a lot more than myself. Somewhere along the way, though, trust in scientific experts has become a political issue (a recent Pew Research study shows this was happening long before the 2020 pandemic). Thus, if I cite experts to people who don’t trust them, my argument will always be wrong.
Here’s another example a little closer to home: Like many of you, I attempted to get a COVID-19 test during the week of Thanksgiving. My partner and I weren’t traveling anywhere, but our jobs regularly bring us in contact with others. So I scheduled an appointment at the local urgent care center, which neglected to tell me that they now charge $50 co-pays for the tests. I searched elsewhere in the area, but because of high demand, all of the slots were taken. My partner finally got tested after waiting in a 250-plus person line at UNC.
I internally debated whether or not to write about this experience. I feared that others who were traveling this holiday season might read this and decide not to get tested. I wanted to portray a narrative about the importance of getting tested, staying vigilant and following information from the CDC and health department. The experience I just described might not fit that narrative.
I believe the best solution is to balance firsthand experiences with valid and reliable research. We should, of course, use evidence to support our claims, but we can also address valid evidence that doesn’t support them. We also don’t need to give equal weight to claims backed by scientific evidence and claims that are not. That is why I trust holiday travelers to read about my experience — and still try to get a COVID-19 test anyway.
Rachel Horowitz resides in Chatham County and works in Pittsboro. She is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media and can be reached at millennialmusings.nc@gmail.com.
