Looking for the truth is harder than you think. We tend to give more credence to facts that are from a "accepted" source like a government agency, a corporation ,a popular organization or a famous college. The world is flooded with information. The are many studies ,findings and reports that contradict other studies ,findings and reports, leaving a truth seeker left to choose their own truth.
To find the real truth one must dig further than studies ,findings and reports . Just because someone has "accepted" credentials does not make them right or truthful.
The courts have already ruled , " There is no law , rule , or regulation thas says that the MSM has to tell the truth!"
So , where is the law , rule , or regulation thas says that any published study ,findings or report has to be the truth ?
In searching for the truth one must dig past the research papers and ask what is the motivation for the studies , who over see's and ok's the release of the studies and most important question is who supplied the funding, grant or donation.
Does it really surprise anyone that members of these boards , commitees or study groups, is presently employed, or has been employed by the company that the study ,findings or report reflect on positivly. Any past , present or future employee will say anything to promote the company if they can benefit from it, its a win win situation.
A negative study ,findings or report can have a positive affect for the same company by damaging their competition.
Does anyone really think colleges provided honest independent studied reports ?
Our colleges main sources of income is funding, grants and donations.
In the real world how fast would the money be cut off, if those providing the money didn't approve of the studies ,findings and reports ?Get real Nothing is for free.
Studies ,findings and reports are not just ruled by money but how we think and feel, they affect how we view laws ,religion, politics,government,science and each other.
So besides checking the facts check your source and ask what was the motivation for their research and where did their funding come from , because credentials don't make the facts right.

What people need to understand is that there is no 'ultimate' truth - or truth that is incontrovertible.

The idea of truth existing somewhere - if only you can find it - is a fools errand. What you need to do, is get as much information as possible - its called evidence - don't worry if it comes from silly sources, or good sources - or sounds crazy, or sounds plausible or whatever.

Just compile as much data as you can - try and find patterns and agreement in it - try to figure out what it means - this is understanding - it is not based on facts, it is based on a holistic picture - where the larger the volume of data the better the model.

When you apply logic - you need 0 and 1 - logic is a binary process. However, you need to understand that when you say something is true - thats a personal choice - it doesnt make something true.

In other words - what you are really doing is ASSUMING that something is either true or false - so you can apply logic - if one of your facts is wrong, then your logic will fail - just like a computer.

All truth is simply an ASSUMPTION for the practical purpose of using logic.

As mere human beings we are not properly capable of discerning any absolute "truth". What has sufficed for most of recorded history is just a general societal agreement about what the truth is. In a small town or village where everyone pretty much knows each other and everyone pretty much shares the same environment and experiences, it is not too difficult to come to a consensus about the truth of things. In the internet age, though, none of us really lives in a small town anymore. There is a very big world of information out there which is not consistent at all and so it is no wonder that most thinking people now have a very difficult time figuring out what the truth is about almost anything.

Kierkegaard said that truth is subjectivity, by which I think he meant that the only truth that matters is the one you choose to live by. From a practical standpoint I suppose this means that you should just find some sort of truth for yourself and live by it honestly and energetically, but always remember that you don't understand the "real" truth any more than anyone else.

In the words of Jack Nicholson......"You can't handle the truth!!!"