Evaluating Evidence/Daily Practice: Becoming an Evidence-Savvy Thinker

The fictional character Sherlock Holmes became famous for his skill in evaluating evidence.

Here’s an “Evaluating Evidence” Daily Practice Checklist, based on the Evaluating Evidence module from Wikiversity. It empowers you to engage deeply with the information you encounter—assessing credibility, uncovering bias, and refining your beliefs over time.

Morning — Anchor Your Intention

• Start with clarity: Reflect that every piece of information—from headlines to data points—is “evidence” and merits scrutiny. Real understanding builds over time, piece by piece.
• Set your daily intention, for example: “Today, I will examine evidence thoughtfully and adjust my views only when justified.”

Evaluative Steps Throughout the Day

Whenever you encounter a claim, report, or data point—notably in media, conversations, or your own thinking—run through these checkpoints:

1. Establish Relevance

• Ask: Does this evidence actually inform the question or topic at hand, or is it noise?

2. Examine Origin & Authenticity

• Query:
  • Where did this evidence come from? Who created or found it, and under what circumstances?
  • Is this the original, or an altered copy or interpretation?

3. Check Objectivity & Bias

• Consider:
  • Is this evidence a direct observation—or someone’s interpretation?
  • Are motives, interests, or affiliations shaping how it’s presented?

4. Compare Forms & Credibility

• Decide if it's:
  • Physical or documented evidence
  • Eyewitness or hearsay testimony
  • Presentation in news or reports
• Evaluate the trustworthiness of each form: original artifacts are generally more reliable than secondhand accounts.

5. Consider Scope, Context & Reliability

• Ask:
  • How representative is this evidence?
  • Does it consider broader context or multiple perspectives?
  • Is it repeatable? Can it be independently verified?

6. Look for Convergence

• Check whether other credible sources corroborate, contradict, or fill in context for this evidence. Diverse agreement strengthens confidence.

7. Watch for Rhetoric, Bullshit, or Deepities

• Be skeptical of statements that are:
  • Vague, overly emotional, or sound profound without substance.
  • Filled with jargon or designed to mislead rather than inform.

8. Align Evidence with Your Belief System

• Reflect:
  • How does this new evidence fit (or conflict) with my existing worldview?
  • Am I allowing confirmation bias to cloud my judgment?

Optional Affirmations — Midday or Throughout the Day

Reinforce your evaluative mindset with reminders like:

• “I assess the quality of evidence.”
• “Evidence guides me toward truth—and away from falsehood.”
• “I understand and resist my own biases.”
• “I seek convergence and coherence, not shortcuts.”

Evening — Reflect & Embed the Skill

Journal or contemplate with questions like:

• Which claims did I evaluate today—and how?
• Did I pause long enough before forming conclusions?
• What assumptions or biases did I notice—or need to challenge?
• How did new information shift—or reinforce—my thinking?
• What’s one way I can improve tomorrow’s evaluations?