Unit 6 Overview: Evaluating Information Quality

In Unit 6, you shift from focusing on how listening works to evaluating the quality of the information you hear. Instead of just asking what a message means, you begin asking whether it should be believed. You learn that not all information is equal—some messages are supported by strong evidence and reasoning, while others rely on emotion, assumptions, or incomplete details. Using the EERB framework—expertise, evidence, reasoning, and bias—you develop a structured way to assess credibility. You also explore how fast, automatic thinking can lead you to accept information too quickly, and why effective listeners slow down to question and evaluate messages intentionally. Throughout the unit, you apply these skills through lectures, knowledge checks, activities, and assignments, all designed to help you become a more critical, informed, and intentional listener.