Bias in Primary Sources

 

HIS 100 Module Four Activity (Bias in Primary Sources)

Source One

• Who authored or created the primary source?
  • DeShazo, J. R., and Freeman, J
• What was the author’s position in society at the time the primary source was created?
  • Member of the HeinOnline resource  
• When was the primary source created?
  • 2006
• Where was the primary source created, released, or publicized?
  • United states
• Who was the intended audience for the primary source?
  • People and the automobile industry
• Why was the primary source created?
  • To understand measures needed to address climate change issue 
• Whose perspective(s) is presented in the source?
  • The public

Source Two

• Who authored or created the primary source?
  • Joel I. Connolly, Mathew J. Martinek, and John J. Aeberly
• What was the author’s or creator’s position in society at the time the primary source was created?
  • Chief, Bureau of Sanitary Engineering
  • Senior Sanitary Chemist; and
  • Head, Division of Ventilation and Industrial Sanitation; Department of Health, Chicago, Illinois.
• When was the primary source created?
  • 1928
• Where was the primary source created, released, or publicized?
  • United States
• Who was the intended audience for the primary source?
  • General population and the public health engineering section of the American public health association.
• Why was the primary source created?
  • To examine the impact of air pollution from carbon monoxide poisoning due to operating automobile motors in city streets and automobile boulevards.
• Whose perspective(s) is presented in the source?
  •  Department of Health experts

Both Sources

Analyze the primary sources relevant to your historical event for the presence of bias.

• These sources include different attitudes, opinions, and values that play a major role in reflecting the biases and, most importantly, world views in consideration to the automobile industry and their impact on climate changes, particularly through air pollution. One bias presented in this source is the fact that the concentration of carbon monoxide in the city streets and automobile boulevards will lead to a serious public health hazard since more people will be exposed to air pollution from automobile fumes as population grows necessitating greater transportation facilities, such as motor driven vehicles (Connolly et al., 1928). Such opinions play a major role in reflecting biases in these sources and, most importantly, views of people and society.

Compare how your historical event is represented in your primary sources.

• The historical event in these primary sources has been represented as an issue that need urgent and effective responses to avoid possible and more negative impacts. It focuses on how automobiles have contributed significantly to the issues of climate change, current measures taken to limit the negative impacts, and most importantly, proposed measures to ensure effeteness and positive outcomes. As a result, these primary sources remain important, particularly in the presentation of different ideas and opinions that could help to solve and address the issues.      

References

Connolly, J. I., Martinek, M. J., & Aeberly, J. J. (1928). The carbon monoxide hazard in city streets. American Journal of Public Health and the Nation’s Health, 18(11), 1375-1383.

DeShazo, J. R., & Freeman, J. (2006). Timing and form of federal regulation: The case of climate change. U. Pa. L. Rev., 155, 1499.