The second set of questions to ask concerns significance: How much interpretation of the image is necessary in order for it to support the claim? What assumptions must we make in order for it to do so?

If the image above were used to support the claim “Fred bludgeons fish that he catches to death using his shoe” then there are a number of points to make about its significance.

The first assumption that we need to make is that the man in the picture is indeed Fred. A second is that the fish is one that he caught. A third is that the fish is dead, which is difficult to tell just by looking at the photo.

If any of these assumptions were false, then the image would not support the claim. The image’s significance is therefore weakened in each of these ways.

Once you have assessed the significance of the image, you should consider the issue of selectivity.