Bias Scenarios

When evaluating a primary source document from the 1800s, what is a critical step in understanding the potential bias of the author?

• Determine the author's background and perspective.

• Assume the document is unbiased because it is a primary source.

• Ignore the document if it contradicts other sources.

• Only focus on the factual information presented.

A historian is researching the causes of the American Civil War. They find a diary written by a Southern plantation owner and a newspaper article from a Northern abolitionist. How should the historian approach these sources to understand the bias present in each?

• Assume both sources are equally biased and disregard them.

• Compare the perspectives and cross-reference with other sources.

• Trust the diary more because it is a primary source.

• Trust the newspaper article more because it is a secondary source.

A student is analyzing two textbooks: one published in the United States and another in Japan, both discussing World War II. What steps should the student take to identify potential biases in these secondary sources?

• Only read the American textbook because it is more relevant.

• Compare the content and perspectives of both textbooks.

• Assume the Japanese textbook is biased and ignore it.

• Use only primary sources to avoid bias.

In studying the Civil Rights Movement, a student finds a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. and a newspaper article from the same period. What should the student consider to understand the biases in these sources?

• The intended audience and purpose of each source.

• Only the factual information presented in the speech.

• The length of the newspaper article.

• The date of the speech.

A student is writing a paper on the portrayal of Native Americans in 19th-century literature. They find a novel written by a European settler and a Native American oral history. How should they use these sources to understand the biases?

• Only use the novel because it is a written document.

• Compare the novel and the oral history to understand different perspectives.

• Ignore the oral history as it is not a written source.

• Assume the novel is more accurate because it is a primary source.

A baseball fan wants to know if Bryce Harper got out at first base during the Phillies vs Braves game. What source would have the LEAST amount of bias?

• The 1st base Umpire who saw Harper at bat

• A Phillies fan

• A Braves fan

• The video footage

The news is reporting on the organization, efficiency, and customer service of PHL airport ✈️ airlines. Which source(s) should the news outlet get their information from?

• Frequent flyers on the airlines (the customers)

• 
  The flight attendants (the employees on the plane)

• Air Traffic Control (workers who coordinate the movement of each airlines' planes)

• ALL of the above to get multiple perspectives