There are a lot of factors that could affect which sources we trust. These factors can be grouped into several categories, such as practical, personal, social, and intellectual. There are overlaps to be sure, but it is helpful to separate them for ease of discussion.
Let’s consider practical factors:
- at hand — physical or electronic resources we possess
- visible — shows up early in search results; mentioned in another resource; advertised or displayed
- accessible — free or cheap; no login or paywall; immediate access
- convenient or easy — little time or effort required
And personal factors
- familiar — used it before
- agreeable — supports what we already know or believe
- feels good — makes us feel safe, powerful, proud, happy, hopeful, virtuous, or simply right(eous)
- aligned — with what we value or seek
- supportive — furthers our own ends
In the next post we’ll continue exploring the categories.
Exercise
1. Think about some times when these practical and personal factors have been the most important in choosing which sources you use to answer a question, solve a problem, or make a decision.
2. When do you go beyond these practical and personal sources?
3. What are the pros and cons to selecting sources based on these practical and personal reasons?
4. What other practical and personal factors would you add to the list I provided?
About Learning
Do you find it difficult to settle down and be productive when you are trying to get the exercises done? Here are a few tips that apply to any kind of brain work
- Put the time in your schedule. Make sure you have enough time to switch gears mentally from what you were doing, settle, do the work, and switch gears back to your other activities again.
- Arrange with others to have a few minutes without interruption.
- Turn devices to silent and leave them in a different room.
- If you using a device, make sure all notifications are off.
- Work in the same place.
- Keep the tools you need together and handy, whether it’s software, files, and links on a computer or books, binders, and writing/drawing tools.
- At the start of the session, take a minute to write down a short list of things that are on your mind, that you are going to set aside for just a little while, because this is important work that will help you be more effective and helpful to others. Cover the list and move it away from your work space, physically or electronically.
- Create a parking lot list. This is for anything that comes up while you are working that you don’t want to forget. Keep the list accessible but not visible when you are working. If something comes up, quickly jot down a reminder on that list (don’t get into it!), and move back to your focus.
References
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Diversion