The idea
What is Informed Opinion?
Informed Opinion records what people think about consequential and disputed propositions. It then gives each registered opinion a weight based on the person's demonstrated knowledge of facts relevant to that particular proposition.
The public result is therefore not simply a count of votes. It shows what participants think while giving greater influence to opinions backed by more correct answers about the relevant facts.
The site does not require a particular opinion, and knowing more does not guarantee that people will agree. Its purpose is to make the relationship between factual knowledge and public judgement visible.
Getting started
You can browse before deciding whether to take part
Open any topic to see its exact proposition, the current result and the number of people behind it. You do not need an account to browse.
If a question interests you, sign in to record your view and try its fact questions. There is no need to finish in one visit, and you can change your view later.
Before answering
Read the proposition, not only the title
The title is a short label. The proposition underneath defines what you are being asked to judge—often including a place, policy or period. Two people may agree about the subject but answer differently because they interpret the proposed action differently.
Choose the response closest to your present view. It is fine to be unsure or neutral; the point is to record where you stand before and after seeing the evidence.
Learning
Treat the quiz as a guided tour of the evidence
Each question tests a fact that may help someone judge the proposition. After answering, you see the correct answer, a short explanation and a link to the source. Following a source is worthwhile when a figure surprises you or a qualification matters to your view.
The opening questions usually put the main issues on the table quickly. Later questions may introduce uncertainty, limits and evidence that challenges your starting position. Every question stands alone, so you can stop and resume without losing the thread.
A wrong answer is not a penalty or a verdict on your judgement. It identifies something useful to learn. If you answer the same fact again, the new response replaces your earlier response to that fact; your answers to all the other facts continue to count.
Your account
Your view, answers and weight can change
Your opinions page shows the topics you have joined, your current position and your progress through the facts. You may revise an opinion whenever your judgement changes.
Correct answers give that opinion knowledge weight. More consequential facts count somewhat more than supporting details, but the range is deliberately small. Weight belongs only to that topic: doing well on one subject does not give your opinions extra influence elsewhere.
Your individual view and answers are not displayed publicly. They contribute to the combined result without being attached to your name.
Browsing results
Look at direction, strength and participation
Each result runs from No, through the middle, to Yes. The marker combines participants' positions while giving more influence to opinions backed by more correct answers on that topic.
Always look at the participant counts as well as the marker. A strong-looking result based on a few people is fragile. A result near the middle may mean that participants are neutral, divided, or that strongly held views balance one another.
The site also shows ordinary accuracy alongside weighted accuracy so you can see how much the editorial importance ratings affect a score. The exact calculation is available on the methodology page.
Checking the material
Sources and corrections are part of the experience
Fact questions link to the evidence supporting their answers. Explanations should distinguish what the source establishes from what remains uncertain or a matter of values.
If something appears inaccurate, unclear, outdated or irrelevant, use the report option on that fact. Moderators review reports and can correct or retire questions. You can also give feedback on whether an opinion question itself is useful.
Contributing
Propose a question you think the site should examine
You can use the Proposals page to suggest one clear, genuinely disputed proposition whose underlying facts could influence people's views. You need an account to send a proposal; moderators may refine its wording and will review the supporting material before publication.
Reading with care
The result describes participants; it does not settle the issue
People choose whether to use the site, so its participants are not necessarily representative of the wider public. A high weight means success on the selected facts—not general expertise, sincerity, wisdom or moral authority.
Facts can correct beliefs and clarify trade-offs, but they do not decide how much importance you should give competing values. The most useful question to take away is often not “Which side won?” but “Which evidence changed—or failed to change—my view, and why?”