Page 265 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

248 Chapter 9

Recency How current is the site? The Internet allows information to be placed
instantly, but some sites are not monitored or updated frequently. A site’s date may be
the date it was created or the date it was last modified— it isn’t always clear. Many sites
have an e- mail address that allows you to ask questions or give feedback to the site
owners. Use this to find out more.

Coverage Is your topic covered in enough depth? The Internet’s speed can work
against depth of coverage, but, often, you can link to additional sites that touch on
your topic. Use a variety of sources to get sufficient information.
These suggestions aren’t foolproof, but they will help you gauge the value and
usefulness of Web- based information. Don’t just accept something because it’s on
the Web.

Recap: A Quick Review

ow well a group evaluates the pros and cons of its alternatives affects how good its
Hsolution or decision will be:
1. Critical thinking— the systematic examination of ideas based on evidence and
reasoning— is crucial to effective group problem solving and decision making.
2. In evaluating information, members must distinguish between facts, which are not
arguable, and inferences (or opinions), which are.
3. Evaluating survey and statistical data may require the help of an expert, since how
the questions are asked and the data gathered can influence the results.
4. When members evaluate sources and opinions, they try to determine whether the
source is credible unbiased, supports his or her opinion with evidence, and whether
that opinion is consistent with those of other experts.
5. When members evaluate reasoning, they look for fallacies, which are reasoning
errors.
6. Five common fallacies are overgeneralizing (drawing a conclusion based on one
or just a few cases); ad hominem attacks (attacking the person instead of the
argument); suggesting inappropriate causal relationships (assuming that because
two events are related, one caused the other); a false dilemma (acting as if only two
choices exist, when likely there are several); and making a faulty analogy (stretching
a comparison too far).
7. Because anyone can post something on the World Wide Web, members need to
evaluate information from the Web carefully.
8. Ask if Web information is accurate (has the information passed some kind of
screening or review before being posted?); whether the source is a credible
authority; who the audience is for the information; what its purpose is (paying
attention to the ending helps— you can guess that .com represents a site that wants
to sell something); how recent or current the site is; and coverage of the topic (is the
topic covered in depth?).

gal37018_ch09_225_258.indd 248 3/28/18 12:37 PM