INFORMATION LITERACY EVALUATING INFORMATION

As consumers, we can rely on ecolabeling to some extent, but we need to remain vigilant about greenwashing, given that there are no clear labeling guidelines. One helpful source is the GoodGuide, which has ratings for more than 120,000 consumer products. Each product is given a summary score on a scale of 0 to 10 that is based on three subscores that address the product’s health, environmental, and social impacts.

Explore the GoodGuide website (www.goodguide.com).

Evaluate the website and work with the information to answer the following questions:

Question 6.21

Is this a reliable information source? Does it have a clear and transparent agenda?

  • Who runs this website? Do the credentials of the individual or organization make the information presented reliable/unreliable? Explain.

  • What is the mission of this website? What are its underlying values? How do you know this?

  • What data sources does GoodGuide rely on, and what methodology does it employ in calculating its rating? Are its sources reliable?

  • Do you agree with GoodGuide’s assessment of the problems with and concerns about consumer products? Explain.

  • Do you agree with GoodGuide’s solutions (e.g., its rating system)? Do you think the criteria it uses for rating products are sufficient and reasonable? Which criteria are most important to you as a consumer? Explain.

Question 6.22

Select one of your favorite products that is rated on the GoodGuide website.

  • How is your product rated by the GoodGuide? Discuss both the overall score as well as the details of the three subscores.

  • Check out the company website for your product. What sort of information about the product does the company website offer? How does it compare to the information on the GoodGuide site? Which information source is more useful to you as a consumer? Explain your responses.

  • On the GoodGuide website, search for alternative brands that have a better rating than your preferred product. Are there other choices? Would you consider switching your brand? Explain.

Find an additional case study online at http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/saes2e