These two readings I think complimented the other well. They both seemed to have an underlying “trust no one” tone. Altman wrote about how there are flaws in the system of publishing academic journals, and mostly when it comes to peer review. Revkin focused on how the public can recieve false information and what the effects are.
I learned a lot from both of these readings. It is very important to question every source even if it appears very reputable. We should always be aware that everything the media hands to us was written and published by humans which means there is always possibility for bias.
These readings should be taken into consideration when taking a class that depends heavily on research. They remind us to evaluate sources as well as the text. A good researcher knows not to assume that just because it is published does that make it completely reliable.
I can immediately apply these readings to my life by applying them to eachother. It is entirely possible that these writings themselves are “exaggerating the perceived importance of findings” and I should question the writer’s motives to make sure there is not conflict of interest.
The Altman and Revkin readings can be directly related to any class that anyone is taking. If you pick up a book for any class you should fully evaluate the book’s credintals before assuming it is right.
