GoodWork Paper 48: Trust Without Knowledge

Author(s): Lindsay Pettingill

Editor(s): Howard Gardner, Series Editor

Media: Paper

Description: I report a study of the Internet sources that young people (aged 15–25) trust, how trust is determined in such sources, and how credibility is moderated by frequent participation in social networking sites. The study confirms the “trustee role” assumed by teachers and educators, while extending this trustee role into the New Digital Media (NDM). The study reveals dependence on the traditional media and suspicion and ambivalence regarding the use of digital media, coupled with inadequate skills to determine credibility of web-based sources. I suggest that determinations of technical sophistication, knowledge, and general complexity of reasoning should be taken into consideration when developing interventions and instruments with respect to literacy in the NDM. The study suggests several avenues for future research.