Academic Writing and Responsible Research Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes regarding cognitive biases, cultural perspectives, and media literacy in academic research and writing.

My side bias

A common type of cognitive bias where people process information in a manner biased toward their own prior beliefs, opinions, and attitudes.

Cultural eye

The unique lens through which an individual interprets the world, formed daily based on environment and experiences such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and gender identity.

Harvard Implicit Association Test

A tool used to help uncover personal shortcomings and assist in the first step of admitting to bias.

Confirmation bias

A bias where individuals seek "their truth" rather than the objective truth, such as assuming a relationship between concepts rather than questioning if one exists.

In-group favoritism

A cognitive state where an individual identifies with a specific group and believes members of that group are superior to others because of their affiliation.

Declineism

The belief that society is declining, often involving the romanticization of the past while willfully ignoring historical injustices.

Anchoring

Making decisions informed by the first source of information received rather than assembling a full, accurate, and relevant analytical picture.

Availability bias

Relying on existing knowledge or assumptions to inform opinions and beliefs instead of seeking additional foundational research to educate oneself.

$$86\%$$

The percentage of Americans who reported getting their news from a smartphone, computer, or tablet according to the transcript.

$$53\%$$

The percentage of people who admit they obtain their news from social media platforms.

Media bias charts

Tools provided by sites like Ad Fontes or AllSides Media that offer researched appraisals on the political leanings and reliability of information sources.

MediaWise project

A project by Poynter that provides media literacy tools to help researchers build a full toolbox for informing themselves.

Mike Caulfield's four moves

A set of strategies used to assist the research process and help in evaluating information.

Verna Myers

The VP of strategy and inclusion at Netflix who encourages approaching bias awareness with "low guilt but high responsibility."

Persuasion strategy

To be successful in this goal, writers must look inward to investigate their own beliefs, motivations, and biases before drafting.