OL109 Lecture 6: FACTS VS INFERENCE lecture 6
FACTS VS INFERENCE
• When we select information, a responsible communicator will make an effort
to determine whether or not the information is true or false (distinguish
between facts and inferences)
• FACT: an objective statement based on observation
• INFERENCE: an interpretation that goes beyond facts
• We must always be careful NOT to treat inferences as if they were facts.
• We present inferences as if they were facts.
How to Avoid the Fact / Inference Confusion
• Personalizing your statements will ensure that you are representing your
inferences as inferences
• Although we make inferences all the time, they don’t always impair our
ability to function in the real world but we increase the risk of
misunderstandings and misinterpretations when we do so.
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