Considering the source, I’d assign a high prior probability to the “hokum” hypothesis.
Try this: randomly search the originating site (eHow) for a question regarding a topic you have some expertise on. Then assume as a default that the site is as reliable on topics you do not know as it is on topics you do know.
As a skeptical learner, I use this strategy in college to decide which science/engineering professors I can trust. For a given professor it lets me know if I should look up the evidence for everything they teach me, or just believe it and move on.
I want to be skeptical, but I don’t have time to learn everything in my field from raw empirical evidence, because it’s too much material. This let’s me identify the subjects most likely to be poorly supported, and investigate them for myself in detail.
Considering the source, I’d assign a high prior probability to the “hokum” hypothesis.
Try this: randomly search the originating site (eHow) for a question regarding a topic you have some expertise on. Then assume as a default that the site is as reliable on topics you do not know as it is on topics you do know.
This is generally an excellent strategy.
As a skeptical learner, I use this strategy in college to decide which science/engineering professors I can trust. For a given professor it lets me know if I should look up the evidence for everything they teach me, or just believe it and move on.
I want to be skeptical, but I don’t have time to learn everything in my field from raw empirical evidence, because it’s too much material. This let’s me identify the subjects most likely to be poorly supported, and investigate them for myself in detail.