Humanity has never had it so good when it comes to accessing accurate information, Timothy Caulfield, ’87 BSc(Spec) ’90 LLB, says in his book The Certainty Illusion, published this year by Penguin Random House Canada. “We’ve never had so much information … and, at the same time, less and less certainty about the issues that matter to us.”
Despite concerns about a decline in trust in knowledge institutions, Caulfield — also a professor in the Faculty of Law and the Research Director for the Health Law Institute — points to a 2022 international survey showing that 90 per cent of the public trusts science, and that this trust actually increased during the pandemic. Researchers from the U of A’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences found much the same thing when they studied 7,200 people in 68 countries: the majority trusts scientists, viewing them as qualified (78 per cent), honest (57 per cent) and concerned about human well-being (56 per cent). Caulfield says that while more false information is circulating, most scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals are accurate. To help people find reliable information, he offers several tips:
1: Don’t be cynical: Trust that good evidence exists. Try to understand how science works and how evidence is gathered. Always ask, “What kind of evidence is being presented: is it an opinion, an anecdote, a small study or a larger body of work?”
2: Watch for emotional triggers: Social media algorithms are designed to exploit emotions like fear and anger. Disconnecting from these triggers can make you less likely to believe and spread misinformation.
3: Read beyond the headline: Around 75 per cent of social media content is shared without the user ever clicking the link. As a result, feelings often win out over facts.
4: Beware of “sciencey” language: Be skeptical of language that sounds impressive but lacks a basis in evidence.
5: Avoid the Galileo gambit: This logical fallacy assumes that truth is being deliberately hidden, so the correct position must be the one that rejects institutional knowledge. “Often people will say, ‘Everyone says I’m wrong, so I must be right,’ ” Caulfield says. This view falsely equates scientific consensus with groupthink.
6: Cultivate intellectual humility: Be willing to change your mind when presented with sound evidence. Caulfield notes that two recent studies found that people who nurture intellectual humility are less likely to fall for misinformation, suggesting that an inability to admit you’re wrong can be a key factor in falling for misinformation.