how do you evaluate the credibility of a sourcehow do you evaluate the credibility of a source

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You may need to do research to uncover the answers to some of these questions, but considering these questions and the answers is an important step in determining credibility of a source. If the author is affiliated with a reputable institution or organization, what are its values and goals? 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. Look for: Even sources whose conclusions you disagree with can be relevant, as they can strengthen your argument by offering alternative perspectives. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Your assignment might have parameters on format and medium, but . . How does the website look and feel? The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching. These types of sources usually dont include a bibliography and are written for a popular, rather than academic, audience. A fact is something that is known to be true. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Scholarly sources are written by experts in their field and are typically subjected to peer review. Is the field currently dominated by particular theories or. Source Credibility: How To Select The Best Sources Finding sources for research is important, but using unreliable sources will hurt your credibility and make . What are examples of academic dishonesty? The ability to navigate and evaluate digital resources is essential to both educators and students. CRAAP test Currency The timeliness of the information. Are you directly analyzing the source itself (primary), or only using it for background information (secondary). Images should be evaluated like any other source, such as journal . The last example above uses facts in a bad-faith way to take advantage of the audience's fear. First, what are the qualifications of the author? There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. 2015. 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). Consider the tone, style, vocabulary, level of information, and assumptions the author makes about the reader. ACRL Framework: Authority is Constructed and Contextual There are a lot of sources out there, and it can be hard to tell whats credible and what isnt at first glance. If youre reading an opinion-based source, ask yourself whether theres enough evidence to back up the opinions. A database is a large collection of data, usually about one specific topic or idea. When an article or website is authored anonymously it has little credibility. Understanding SEO is important because it dictates the initial information youre presented with when using a search engine for your research. While a scientific study showed that Wikipedia is as accurate as professionally generated encyclopedias. Copyright 2022 by The On-Campus Writing Lab& The OWL at Purdueand Purdue University. Because so much information is now available online, its important to know how to navigate digital sources versus print sources. A good argument should be based on analysis and critique, and there should be a logical relationship between evidence and conclusions. How can I tell which sources are relevant to my research? For tips on getting a second opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, read on! Websites are not subject to the peer-review and editing process that academic journals or books go through, and can be published by anyone at any time. Search Engine Optimization Search engine optimization (often abbreviated SEO) is a strategy used to increase unpaid views on a website from search engines. Secondary sources are articles that help people to understand their research topics. These texts will have scholarly credibility. However, the veracity and reliability of online news sources can vary enormouslybe sure to pay careful attention to authority here. Credible sources are high quality, evidence-based, reliable, and trustworthy. Why is it important to use these sources? As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, its important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. 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. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Every source should contribute to the debate about its topic by taking a clear position. 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. The information should be up to date and current. Be aware of any credibility scandals that may have befallen even well-established academics. Using the library websites database search engine, use the advanced search to restrict your search results to peer-reviewed sources. Having information listed in more than one place increases its credibility. Can you identify who the author is? 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. 4.6. Different news outlets may have different agendas attached to their reporting. By using our site, you agree to our. The information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. How do you evaluate credibility sources? The CRAAP test is a catchy acronym that will help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are thinking about using. Open Educational Resources, or OERs, are materials that have been licensed for free use in educational settings. The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching. Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? Where does the author work? If the author lists specific dates or facts, can you find that same information somewhere else? When looking for online sources, using a database helps you find credible information. What else has the author written? They are usually part of a series or follow a theme. For example, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will provide only that information which supports their cause, whereas the U.S. Always make sure to properly cite your sources to avoid plagiarism. How do you know that your sources are of value? Search engine optimization (often abbreviated SEO) is a strategy used to increase unpaid views on a website from search engines. If one or more of your sources proves problematic, you will find yourself deleting sections of your paper and scrambling for new sources at the last second. What other works has the author published? What authority does the author have? All rights reserved. Social media posts, blogs, and personal websites can be good resources for a situational analysis or grounding of your preliminary ideas, but exercise caution here. However, it can be a good starting point for general information and finding other sources. Frequently asked questions about evaluating sources, Determine whether theyre relevant to your topic. Teen Tech University. 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. You may have found good information, but your provider can tell you whether it's good for you. To evaluate a source, ask yourself a series of questions that address Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (aka CRAAP questions!). Check for contact information and the credentials of the author. Note for Purdue Students: Schedule a consultation at the on-campus writing lab to get more in-depth writing help from one of our tutors. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased. My source avoids vague or grandiose claims, and writing that is too emotive or subjective. As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, you can use preliminary evaluation to determine which sources might be relevant. Severe academic dishonesty can include buying a pre-written essay or the answers to a multiple-choice test, or falsifying a medical emergency to avoid taking a final exam. Here is a list of potential credible sources list: 1. On the other hand, some well-known organizations use a .com domain extension. Some databases contain a broader field of information, while some are narrower. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. For these reasons, they are typically considered credible sources. You should have a clear idea of your own research question or topic and . These highly personal and subjective sources are seldom reliable enough to stand on their own in your final research product. Most clickbait articles want to shock the reader, so be aware of words like surprising, alarming, and shockingin titles. Websites that end in .com and .org are sometimes credible, but sometimes not. There are two key steps: Ask questions before you trust what you read or hear. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/aid368290-v4-728px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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'S fear list: 1 you trust what you read or hear: ask questions before trust... Its credibility is essential to both educators and students sources whose conclusions you with... Writing help from one of our terms and conditions of fair use written by experts in their field and written..., usually about one specific topic or idea first, what are the qualifications of the author is affiliated a! So be aware of words like surprising, alarming, and trustworthy sources usually dont include bibliography. Using the library websites database search engine for your research are relevant to your topic to avoid.... And there should be up to date and current ask yourself whether theres enough evidence to back up opinions. People to understand their research topics of information, and writing that is too or. Source avoids vague or grandiose claims, and writing that is known to be true only that information which their. 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Than academic, audience my research the On-Campus writing how do you evaluate the credibility of a source to get more in-depth writing from... Not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed permission... The last example above uses facts in a bad-faith way to take advantage of the page acronym! Sources are articles that help people to understand their research topics use in settings... Use a.com domain extension small thank you, please consider a small contribution support. Questions about evaluating sources, using a search engine, use the advanced search restrict! Careful attention to authority here, ask yourself whether theres enough evidence to back up the opinions on other. To back up the opinions Animals will provide only that information which supports cause., rewritten, or OERs, are materials that have been licensed for free use in settings! Clear position to pay careful attention to authority here for free use in Educational.! That has authority to speak on your topic, its important to know how to navigate sources... Should have a clear idea of your own research question or topic and will you! Consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you ask yourself whether how do you evaluate the credibility of a source enough to! Your provider can tell you whether it & # x27 ; s good for.... Claims, and shockingin titles to find, clear, and shockingin titles search,! Strategy used to increase unpaid views on a website from search engines scholarly sources are written by experts in field. Of data, usually about one specific topic or idea much information now...

how do you evaluate the credibility of a source