Levels of evidence and healthy scepticism – Sketchnotes for learning

I’ve combined a few concepts here from week 4 ‘evidence used in practice’ including levels of evidence and healthy scepticism. This one probably edges more into the category of a sketched infographic, but in any case, it’s for my study notes.

Some notes on the concepts I have covered in this mental mash-up.

Levels of evidence

In the scientific method we need to consider the ‘level of the evidence’ in assessing whether it is a trustworthy source for making decisions. Simplistically myths and social media are unverified, untrustworthy and low quality, whereas peer reviewed studies and empirical research are verified and high quality. The reason for the quality of research is the active filtering of bias.

Healthy skepticism

In applying healthy skepticism we are critical of sources which have not gone through a process of filtering bias. We can filter our own bias by selecting trusted and quality sources for making decisions. However in this we risk keeping out too much information, filtering too much. We can acknowledge our filter, and our bias, and when reading or using material which hasn’t been passed through the filter apply our healthy scepticism.

Skeptic v sceptic

I realise I have used the spelling of skeptic and sceptic inconsistently. Spelling errors happen in my sketchnotes all the time, for the most part I leave them. This is one of those times.

Skeptic v sceptic – Grammar.com

Credits

HPS105 Foundations of Psychological Practice, Deakin University 2021, Week 4 Evidence Used in Practice