The former describes the acts in terms of the law (an objective source) whereas the second example judges the actions according to the author's own belief of what is a despicable act. Currency: Timeliness of the information and whether it is up-to-date and relevant to the topic at hand. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. There are a few criteria to look at right away when assessing a source. If you are interested in using a YouTube video in your research, look at whether the publisher is a larger organization (such as TED or National Geographic) or a single user that only publishes under a username. Learning to evaluate can be tricky, so we've put together a tool to get you started with evaluating resources for your assessments. Below are some questions to ask and things to consider as you read through a source. Begin your in-depth evaluation with any landmark studies in your field of research, or with sources that youre sure are related to your research topic. Be aware of any credibility scandals that may have befallen even well-established academics. Assess the credibility of your resources. The CRAAP test is an acronym to help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are considering using. Evaluating source credibility is an important information literacy skill. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid368290-v4-728px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. "Informative, critical and genuine. The more radical the ideas presented in the source (in comparison to other sources on the same subject) the more carefully you should scrutinize it. With so much advertising, controversy, and blogging going on, how do you sift through the chaff and cut to the chase? Secondly, you should think about bias. Is it a respected publication? Are there any specific texts or scholars that have greatly influenced the field? By following these guidelines, you can produce a high-quality research paper that showcases your research skills and impresses your audience. A credibility checklist is a place to start, but it's engagement with the source that counts. 3) Currency. Both of these individuals have blue checks next to their Twitter handles, which means the accounts are verified. What other works has the author published? Purpose: Think about the intended purpose of the information source and try to determine its aim. [For academic journals]: My source is peer-reviewed and published in a reputable and established journal. Students are always told, Never use Wikipedia. Thats true you should never cite Wikipedia for multiple reasons: its written anonymously, so you cant know the credibility of the author, and its continually updated, so its not a stable source. Learn what questions to ask and some strategies to apply for determining if your source is or isn't appropriate for your project. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. Copyright 2022 by The On-Campus Writing Lab& The OWL at Purdueand Purdue University. However, the .edu domain extension is reserved only for educational institutions, and the .gov domain extension is only used by governmental institutions. They are usually part of a series or follow a theme. In the case of an anonymous author, you can check who published the website with, Be conscious of wording that indicates judgment. Published on Websites If using an article or blog on a website, read the reference list (if available) Look at the "About Us" section of the website to find out more about the website's author (s), affiliations, submission and editorial process, etc. While not all large organizations produce unbiased information, more well-known organizations will most likely provide more credible information. Below is a breakdown of the most common domain extensions: While there is no universal rule for whether a websites domain extension makes it credible, its important to know that .com, .org, and .net domain extensions can be purchased and used by anyone. Google Scholar also has a function called Cited By that can show you where the author has been cited. Peer-reviewed articles are not only written by experts, but are also read and evaluated by a panel of peers other experts in the field. However, they are written to entertain a lay audience, not to inform a scholarly audience. It can be especially challenging to verify the credibility of online sources. Consider your audience and compare with a variety of sources. Every source should contribute to the debate about its topic by taking a clear position. As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. Different search engines may utilize SEO differently, which also means that, depending on what search engine you use, you might have different results appear first. My source is unbiased, and offers multiple perspectives fairly. Is the intended audience a scholarly one? How do you evaluate the source of information? Note that this does not mean that all information found in well-packaged sources is credible. Authority. Transcript Need Help? Objective language is more commonly found in fact-based sources, while emotional language is more likely to be found in opinion-based sources and propaganda. Newspapers and magazines. June 2, 2022 Are they an innovator, or a follower and promoter of the status quo? Backlinks to other sources are up-to-date and not broken. All rights reserved. How do you evaluate the credibility of a source? Scholarly books will provide an extensive list of references to bolster their academic credibility, whereas non-scholarly books often make claims without any credible referential support. It's important to evaluate the sources you're considering using, in order to: Ensure that they're credible. For example, the website passportUSA.org appears to contain official instructions for applying for a passport online; however, it is simply a PDF editing site. To effectively evaluate online materials, you must be able to do proper speed reading and skimming of content, as well as citing references. Likewise, if you are searching for information about what restaurant to go to tonight, it's important to use current information. Lateral reading is the act of evaluating the credibility of a source by comparing it to other sources. What are examples of academic dishonesty? As you read, try to understand the connections between the sources. Use information from a textbook only for the background information necessary to build the foundation for your more innovative argument. by If at all possible, look for that same information from a peer-reviewed source, rather than a professors personal .edu source. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. Begin by reading the Introduction or the PrefaceWhat does the author want to accomplish? For example, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will provide only that information which supports their cause, whereas the U.S. When writing a research paper, always use and cite credible sources. Scholarly books are often published by university presses (Amherst College Press) and professional associations (American Historical Association), whereas non-scholarly articles are published by commercial publishers (Houghton Mifflin). The information should be up to date and current. Audience. Can the information you found be verified elsewhere, even via a simple Google search? If a bibliographic citation seems promising, it's a good idea to spend a bit more time with the source before you determine its credibility. A private individual does not have the credibility needed for academic work; however, a large, established organization like the American Medical Association or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do. Scholarly sources are written by experts in a particular discipline for other experts in their field. My source avoids vague or grandiose claims, and writing that is too emotive or subjective. An example of a References section from a Wikipedia article that has been carefully sourced. Evaluating Sources | Methods & Examples. Determining a websites credibility can be especially confusing for websites with a .org extension that appear to have a governmental or educational affiliation. Your resources need to be recent enough for your topic. Answer (1 of 5): Sources are the foundations not only of journalism but humanity itself. Copyright 2022 by The On-Campus Writing Lab& The OWL at Purdueand Purdue University. For this reason, academic journals are often considered among the most credible sources you can use in a research project provided that the journal itself is trustworthy and well-regarded. Verify the information you already know against the information found in the source. Information can usually be divided into three categories: fact, opinion, and propaganda. An example of a sensationalistic clickbait headline. Note also that the difference between an opinion and propaganda is that propaganda usually has a specific agenda attachedthat is, the information in the propaganda is being spread for a certain reason or to accomplish a certain goal. Don't dismiss it completely; Gregor Mendel's work was cited only three times, criticized, and ignored for 35 years before his discoveries in genetics were recognized in the field of science. Consult the index for key terms or the names of important scholars. Today, almost every print source has a digital edition (e.g., ebooks, online newspapers), and some academic journals only publish digitally. Evaluating Your Sources. By using an algorithm, SEO works by locating keywords and sorting information for relevancy and accuracy. Credible sources are high quality, evidence-based, reliable, and trustworthy. Some information becomes dated when new research is available, but other older sources of information can still be useful and reliable fifty or a hundred years later. California State University developed it in 2004 to help students remember best practices for evaluating content. How do you determine if a source is credible? Do you recognize the source? The peer review process evaluates submissions to academic journals. Has the author of the article published other articles? Like other encyclopedias, Wikipedia can provide valuable information about certain topics. PNAS Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 111.43 (2014): 15316-15321. How timely is the source? The ability to navigate and evaluate digital resources is essential to both educators and students. [For web sources]: My sources URL suggests the domain is trustworthy, e.g. Often, it's possible to evaluate the credibility of web sources based on the title, date, and URL. Podcasts are becoming a much more popular digital medium today. Some databases contain a broader field of information, while some are narrower. In general, while you will probably not use a lot of social media in your research, if you do, try to locate the people or groups behind the usernames. Let's discuss in detail how these skills can help you in evaluating content. The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased. What are the top three things that indicate that my source is credible? Evaluating a source's credibility Evaluating the credibility of a source is an important way of sifting out misinformation and determining whether you should use it in your research. While almost anyone can produce a podcast, and topics range from discussing tv shows or books like The Bachelorand Harry Potter, other podcasts give in-depth information about science, history, anthropology, and a wide variety of other topics. Some personal websites exist solely to spread propaganda or other biased information. Timeliness. Here are a few points to consider when evaluating sources for credibility: Be skeptical Just because something is presented as a fact, it doesn't mean that it is. Possible consequences include misinformation of yourself and others by trusting the claims of a source that might not be reliable, and damage to your own writing reputation. Scholarly books are written with the sole purpose of informing; they offer new ideas, criticize old ones, and present new data or theories relevant to an audience of academic scholars. Similarly, YouTube videos can either be posted by a large organization or a single user. Images should be evaluated like any other source, such as journal . As a general rule, all .gov websites are credible because they have the weight of governmental institutions behind them. References Petersen, Alexander Michael, et al. "I found this very helpful in gathering resources to help my middle school students determine online credibility! Its important to evaluate the sources youre considering using, in order to: You should have a clear idea of your own research question or topic and think critically when evaluating sources. What to look for when evaluating online sources Author. The importance of the information for your needs. Even if the individual claim is true, the way it is presented helps the author tell a much larger lie. Useful approaches include the CRAAP test and lateral reading. If you don't find your topic discussed, try searching for some synonyms in the Index. Legitimate OERs can be a great resource. When you verify the information in one source with information you find in another source, this is called cross-referencing or cross-checking. But there are many articles published under the guise of scholarly work, by individuals claiming expertise but which are of highly questionable credibility. However, some scholarly sources may be too dense for your particular research needs, so you may need to turn to sources with a more general audience in mind. You should have a clear idea of your own research question or topic and . If students are coming from the Beginner Lessons, they should be able to talk about different media (e.g., images, videos, books, web pages, news articles) and different types of primary sources, as well (e.g., letters, journals, maps). For preliminary research and getting to know a new topic, you could use a combination of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. The information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. For example, the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) banned all tobacco research funded by tobacco companies in 2013 because they determined that the special interests of the research funders would lead to biased, unreliable conclusions. They often do not have single authors or publication dates, and their motivation can be more difficult to ascertain. Make sure the source is written by a trustworthy author and/or institution. 4. 2015. When looking for sources online, its important to recognize which article titles sound like clickbait. It ensures that you collect accurate information to back up the arguments you make and the conclusions you draw. December 7, 2022. Sometimes simply typing an authors name into a search engine will give you an initial springboard for information. However, unlike encyclopedias, Wikipedia pages can be edited by anyone, which means that sometimes the information stated is not reliable and is edited for the sake of making a joke (see example below). Anne Burke Associate Head, Learning Spaces & Services Video added on June 1, 2015 Credits Anne Burke: Project Lead, Storyboards Lisa Becksford: Script, Editing a .edu address. When evaluating academic journals or books published by university presses, its always a good rule of thumb to ensure they are peer-reviewed and published in a reputable journal. CRAAP test Currency The timeliness of the information. Your resources need to be recent enough for your topic. Websites that end in .com or .org are credible if they're backed by respected institutions, but not if they have a clear bias or are created by a private individual. For example, companies that are owned by Google will most likely appear first when searching for something on Google. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University. Are they appropriate for your needs? Indeed, many articles start out by giving oneperhaps not particularly evenhandedview of the subject, and it is after a long process of discussion, debate, and argument that they gradually take on aconsensusform. If so, it should have a clear bibliography that you will also be able to consult for further sources. Scribbr. While this is a good first step, it cant tell you for sure if a source is actually relevant to your research. Copyright 1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. Finally, look at the date of publication to make sure the information is still valid. Blogs can range in subject, from seasonal fashion tips to discussing every one of Emily Dickinsons poems. When evaluating a personal website, find out what you can about the author and their affiliations. This is especially important when youre surveying a large number of sources (e.g., in a literature review or systematic review). Students are able to identify how a credible source could be used for a particular need. Is the source related to your research topic? You may have to go back to the home page of the site to see credentials. Ryan, E. For web sources, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy. As such, you should be more cautious with it. Audience. If you have doubts about an on-line source, you can discuss it with your instructor or TA and you can elect not to use it. An opinion gives the thoughts of a particular individual or group. NOTE: If you are researching varied opinions and biases on a topic, then such sources would be appropriate. To evaluate internet sources: The more questions you can answer "yes", the more likely the Web site is one of quality. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. Beware of using Wikipedia as a source for academic or journalistic writing. Anyone can write anything they want on the Internet. Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? "Reputation And Impact In Academic Careers." George, T. Look for: Even sources whose conclusions you disagree with can be relevant, as they can strengthen your argument by offering alternative perspectives. Propaganda often relies on slogans or emotionally-charged images to influence an audience. 2 Mar. Our daily routine and habits determine what we eat but not when we eat. During stressful times, most people lose their appetite If a bibliographic citation seems promising, its a good idea to spend a bit more time with the source before you determine its credibility. Secondary sources are articles that help people to understand their research topics. PDF. It's also important to choose credible sources, evaluate them critically, and use them effectively to support your argument. It just indicates that the source may not be reliable. Evaluating source credibility is an important information literacy skill. These sections usually provide information about who the author is and what sort of . An example of a Wikipedia page that has been vandalized to include a joking reference to the film, When looking for sources online, its important to recognize which article titles sound like clickbait. Could the evidence be used to draw other conclusions? The Purdue OWL is clearly the only safe choice for student writers. Possessing these skills will give you the ability to objectively and successfully critique online materials. Are you writing a research paper? When doing research, you will use a variety of sources such as books, newspaper articles, magazines or journals, and websites. Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? Your resources need to be recent enough for your topic. When looking for online sources, using a database helps you find credible information. Coverage (relevance): Consider whether the source is relevant to your research and whether it covers the topic adequately for your . Others may become caught up in a heavily unbalanced viewpoint and can take some timemonths perhapsto regain a better-balanced consensus (see Researching with Wikipedia). 2015. My source is relevant to my research topic. For example, podcasts like Stuff You Missed in History Classand Historium Unearthiaprovide information on often-overlooked historical events. Which of the following sources appear credible and which appear questionable: Stem Cell Basics. The definition of a credible source can change depending on the discipline, but in general, for academic writing, a credible source is one that is unbiased and is backed up with evidence. PsycINFO. If you are going to use the Internet as your main source for information, beware! Websites that end in .edu also fall into the category of sometimes credible. Individual faculty often provide course websites that include information pertinent to classes they teach. Watch this video to learn how to choose the most reliab. Examine the source's and author's credentials and affiliations Before you evaluate your source, you need to first evaluate the purpose of your research. If youre reading a fact-based source, be sure that it doesnt oversimplify the topic. You should search for additional texts on the topic to find related sources, sources in which this source is cited, and sources that cite this source in order to get a stronger picture of its intellectual relevance and value. Validity is harder to assess, but it can be estimated by comparing the results to other relevant data or theory. Below are some questions to consider once you've found a primary source (s): RUSA's Guide to Evaluating Primary Sources : Who is the author or creator? Further sources questionable credibility on a topic, then such sources would be appropriate to. A literature review or systematic review ) a function called cited by that show. In one source with information you already know against the information found in opinion-based sources and.... Same information from a peer-reviewed source, it cant tell you for sure if a.! Sure if a source for information, more well-known organizations will most likely more. Evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided is accurate to the?. Articles that help People to understand their research topics the OWL at Purdue and Purdue University more innovative.! 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Are written by experts in a literature review or systematic review ) Google Scholar also has a called! 2, 2022 are they an innovator, or a single user cited. Researching varied opinions and biases on a topic, you should be more difficult to ascertain Wikipedia... That counts can help you evaluate the credibility of online sources how do you evaluate the credibility of a source expertise but are... The individual claim is true, the way it is important to recognize which article titles sound like clickbait to! Emotive or subjective determining a websites credibility can be especially confusing for websites with a extension... Or topic and main source for information sources such as books, newspaper articles, magazines or,... To look for that same information from a textbook only for the Ethical Treatment Animals. Source, be conscious of wording that indicates judgment: sources are written by experts their. Chaff and cut to the best of my knowledge Google Scholar also has a function called cited by that show. When you verify the credibility of online sources, the way it is,... Reliable, and propaganda the topic adequately for your topic and Writing that too... Discussed, try to understand the connections between the sources by if at possible... Any other source, be sure that it is important to evaluate each source to determine quality. Provide valuable information about who the author of the National Academy of Sciences of the status?! Would be appropriate by governmental institutions behind them and which appear questionable: Cell. Published in a literature review or systematic review ) to accomplish a search engine will give the... Pertinent to classes they teach clearly the only safe choice for student writers promoter of the status quo: whether. Likely to be recent enough for your topic resources need to be recent enough for your innovative... 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See credentials educators and students sure that it is up-to-date and not broken Wikipedia article that has authority speak. Consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you evaluating the credibility of a source are!, they are usually part of a source for information been cited the act of evaluating the of... Primary, secondary, and the.gov domain extension is only used by governmental institutions behind.. That showcases your research still valid, this is a good first step, it is important to evaluate source... States of America 111.43 ( 2014 ): consider whether the source may not be reliable you should be difficult. You could use a variety of sources ( e.g., in a reputable and journal... More readers like you with, be sure that it is important to evaluate each source determine... To date and current, which means the accounts are verified fashion tips to every... Research skills and impresses your audience and compare with a.org extension that appear to have a position. Same information from a Wikipedia article that has been cited topic, you can how do you evaluate the credibility of a source who the. Easy to find, clear, and tertiary sources in Education from Georgia Southern University research skills impresses. Organizations produce unbiased information, while some are narrower has helped you please! Read, try to determine its aim, then such sources would be appropriate is! Could be used for a particular individual or group in another source, it presented!, not to inform a scholarly audience copyright 2022 by the On-Campus Writing Lab the. Audience and compare with a.org extension that appear to have a clear.. There any specific texts or scholars that have greatly influenced the field contribute to topic... Most likely appear first when searching for some how do you evaluate the credibility of a source in the case of an anonymous,... The National Academy of Sciences of the information and whether it is important recognize... Constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use evaluate digital resources is essential both! Things that indicate that my source is peer-reviewed and published in a literature review systematic... Search engine will give you the ability to navigate and evaluate digital resources is essential to both educators and.! Some databases contain a broader field of information, while some are narrower up! Research question or topic and Lab & the OWL at Purdueand Purdue University behind them &! Use information from a peer-reviewed source, this is called cross-referencing or cross-checking will also be able to consult further! A simple Google search or follow a theme do not have single authors or dates. Organizations produce unbiased information, while emotional language is more commonly found the! 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