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. It should be evident who created the content. How to Evaluate the Credibility of a Source, https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2014/07/17/%C5%BEi%C5%BEek-plagiarism-and-lowering-expectations-essay, https://www.angelo.edu/library/handouts/peerrev.php, https://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit07/internet07_08.phtml, http://www.aaupnet.org/aaup-members/membership-list, https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/choosingsources/chapter/author-and-publisher/, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/online-health-information-it-reliable, http://www.theguardian.com/science/sifting-the-evidence/2013/oct/21/medical-research-health, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4530930.stm, evaluar la credibilidad de una fuente de informacin, Quellen auf ihre Glaubwrdigkeit berprfen. 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. It's important to evaluate the sources you're considering using, in order to: Ensure that they're credible. First, what are the qualifications of the author? Key Takeaways. Yes to scholarly databases. To assess an arguments strengths and weaknesses, ask: Situating a source in relation to other sources (lateral reading) can help you determine whether the authors arguments and conclusions are reliable and how you will respond to them in your own writing. Evaluating Primary Sources It is important to examine primary sources with a critical eye since they represent unfiltered records of the past. Published on 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. Your resources need to be recent enough for your topic. In this case, the lie is that there is a link between the websites students visit for writing help and their later susceptibility to criminal lifstyles. Educational resources end in .edu, and are generally considered the most credible in academic settings. Preliminary evaluation is useful as it allows you to: While this preliminary evaluation is an important step in the research process, you should engage with sources more deeply in order to adequately understand them. Here is a list of potential credible sources list: 1. There are many different types of sources, which can be divided into three categories: primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. A quick. This panel of experts determines whether or not the sources used in the article were credible, whether the methodologies used in studies are scientifically sound, and render a professional opinion as to whether or not an article meets the academic standard of integrity. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. When doing research, you will use a variety of sources such as books, newspaper articles, magazines or journals, and websites. For further guidance, Kaneisha Gaston, Teaching and Undergraduate Services Librarian in Butler Library, can help you evaluate online sources forcredibility. Possessing these skills will give you the ability to objectively and successfully critique online materials. These sites may include lecture materials and interpretation of sources. Source Credibility: How To Select The Best Sources Finding sources for research is important, but using unreliable sources will hurt your credibility and make . To ensure you include only valid information in your research, evaluate your sources using the criteria below. 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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This is not to say that less-established scholars work is not credible. A good argument should be based on analysis and critique, and there should be a logical relationship between evidence and conclusions. The questions below should be asked when evaluating any . Retrieved March 1, 2023, Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. Coverage (relevance): Consider whether the source is relevant to your research and whether it covers the topic adequately for your . However, if you are examining an historical event, you may want to find primary documents from the time of the event, thus requiring older sources. Columbia University in the City of New York. Note that this does not mean that all information found in well-packaged sources is credible. Has the author been cited by other scholars? Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. Evaluating Sources Read More Diane Shepelwich 3395 26 Criteria for Evaluating Sources When was the website last updated? In fact, even Wikipedia itself encourages its users to take caution when gathering information from its site. As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, you can use preliminary evaluation to determine which sources might be relevant. All rights reserved. What to look for when evaluating online sources Author. Online verification skills; Evaluating Sources for Credibility; Spotting Fake News; Evaluating Sources (Glyn Library) Evaluating Sources (Northwest University) Evaluating Sources (USU Libraries) . 1) Accuracy. Snell, Julia. Transcript Need Help? CRAAP test Currency The timeliness of the information. The information should be up to date and current. Are the journals policies on copyright and peer review easily available? Currency: Timeliness of the information and whether it is up-to-date and relevant to the topic at hand. This article has been viewed 849,783 times. Some personal websites exist solely to spread propaganda or other biased information. political)? The sources you use are an important component of your research. What is the difference between a scholarly and a popular source? Privacy policy. Check for a list of references or other citations that look as if they will lead you to related material that would be good sources. Examine source in full text (PDF or original print is preferable) for errors, organization, opinions, etc. Look for high-end, professional finishes to websites and print publications. Evaluating Internet Resources Unlike similar information found in newspapers or television broadcasts, information available on the Internet is not regulated for quality or accuracy; therefore, it is particularly important for the individual Internet user to evaluate the resource or information. Primary sources are often considered the most credible in terms of providing evidence for your argument, as they give you direct evidence of what you are researching. Determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth, Increase the quality of the information you consume. Use information from a textbook only for the background information necessary to build the foundation for your more innovative argument. Can the information you found be verified elsewhere, even via a simple Google search? Sometimes, citing a scholar who goes against the tide of established thinking provides you with ammunition for a compelling devils advocate argument. This website collects and publishes the ideas of individuals who have contributed those ideas in their capacities as faculty-mentored student scholars. Citation Styles & ToolsQuick MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides for bibliographies; tools for storing and organizing sources. Watch this video to learn how to choose the most reliab. Academic dishonesty can be intentional or unintentional, ranging from something as simple as claiming to have read something you didnt to copying your neighbors answers on an exam. You should carefully read the source to determine this. Are they appropriate for your needs? Relevance. Because clickbait sources exist simply to promote webpages, they are not considered credible sources. Your resources need to be recent enough for your topic. Rather than taking these figures at face value, you decide to determine the accuracy of the sources claims by cross-checking them with official statistics such as census reports and figures compiled by the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Immigration Statistics. If students are coming from Intermediate Lessons, they should additionally be able to name formats of web . It just indicates that the source may not be reliable. They are written to inform, not entertain, and assume a high level of previous knowledge because they are written specifically to people who have a vested professional interest in technical information relevant to their specialization. Audience. Fact: The Purdue OWL was launched in 1994. What other works has the author published? For each criterion, there are several questions to be asked. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. If youre reading an opinion-based source, ask yourself whether theres enough evidence to back up the opinions. Academic journals are often a great place to find trustworthy and credible content, and are considered one of the most reliable sources you can use in academic writing. [For academic journals]: My source is peer-reviewed and published in a reputable and established journal. Before you evaluate your source, you need to first evaluate the purpose of your research. 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. There are two key steps: Ask questions before you trust what you read or hear. 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. The OER Commons is a public digital library that is curated by librarians, and a solid place to start. 2. Like most sources, you should try to find out information about the author and cross-check the information in the podcast to see if you can find it elsewhere. How do you evaluate the source of information? If at all possible, look for that same information from a peer-reviewed source, rather than a professors personal .edu source. Most clickbait articles want to shock the reader, so be aware of words like surprising, alarming, and shockingin titles. This process will help you determine if a source is credible and help you identify if it is relevant to your research. It is more appropriate to compare something to an objective standard than to label it with words that represent abstract concepts for example, "these and other illegal acts" is preferable to "these and other despicable acts". In general, check for vague terms, buzzwords, or writing that is too emotive or subjective. While its not encouraged to use Wikipedia as one of your main sources, Wikipedia can be used as a jumping-off point for other sources. 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. There are large, famous organizations that are still known to have biases. As you read, try to understand the connections between the sources. Use this checklist to determine if an article is credible or not: Similarly, Wikipedia is not considered a reliable source due to the fact that it can be edited by anyone at any time. Snell, Julia. However, the strategies used for books, articles and websites can also be used for other types . How do you evaluate the credibility of a source? If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the Cite this Scribbr article button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator. It is an important component of information literacy. George, T. If you are researching for an academic paper, then you need to have very credible,. 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. Most sources will use a mix of primary and secondary sources to form an argument. 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. Perspective. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. When looking for sources online, its important to recognize which article titles sound like clickbait. 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. East, Adelphi, MD 20783. What authority does the author have? This is a great place to kick off your research. For a web source, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy. However, if you have an active .edu email account from a university where you either attend or work, you can make use of the librarys subscriptions to databases to access these journals. Beware of grandiose claims, and critically analyze anything not cited or backed up by evidence. Lateral reading is the act of evaluating the credibility of a source by comparing it to other sources. Evaluating Sources: Introduction Evaluating Sources: Introduction Evaluating sources means recognizing whether the information you read and include in your research is credible. Try out the Dependability Checklist. In the case of an anonymous author, you can check who published the website with, Be conscious of wording that indicates judgment. However, if you used a different search engine, such as Yahoo or Bing, your results may differ. A high number of Cited By results can often be a measurement of credibility. For example, if you are researching cutting-edge scientific technology, a source from 10 years ago will not be sufficiently current. My source is recent enough to contain up-to-date information on my topic. To evaluate a source's critical reception: Check in the library's book and film review databases t o get a sense of how a source was received in the popular and scholarly press. Different news outlets may have different agendas attached to their reporting. Citing information from an unreliable source makes academic audiences wary of your entire argument because it is based on information held to a lower level of integrity. 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. There are a lot of sources out there, and it can be hard to tell what's credible and what isn't at first glance. These types of sources usually dont include a bibliography and are written for a popular, rather than academic, audience. Teen Tech University. Evaluating Sources for Credibility - YouTube 0:00 / 3:14 Evaluating Sources for Credibility libncsu 4.88K subscribers Subscribe 1.9K Share Save 739K views 7 years ago What does it mean for a. You can evaluate the reliability and scholarship of information you find both online and in print by using these guidelines: Authorship If the author is not identified be wary. Why is it important to evaluate an online source before citing it? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 849,783 times. Authority. Search engine optimization (often abbreviated SEO) is a strategy used to increase unpaid views on a website from search engines. Do. 3 Ways to Evaluate the Credibility of a Source - wikiHow Thinking Skills Critical Thinking How to Evaluate the Credibility of a Source Download Article methods Source Evaluation Help 1 Evaluating Sources for Academic Projects 2 Evaluating Sources for Everyday Life Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Related Articles References Article Summary Our daily routine and habits determine what we eat but not when we eat. How does the author use evidence? Begin by reading the Introduction or the PrefaceWhat does the author want to accomplish? If the author lists specific dates or facts, can you find that same information somewhere else? It's also important to choose credible sources, evaluate them critically, and use them effectively to support your argument. Even if the individual claim is true, the way it is presented helps the author tell a much larger lie. Scribbr. Could the evidence be used to draw other conclusions? Open Educational Resources, or OERs, are materials that have been licensed for free use in educational settings. Your judgment should involve critical thinking and assessment of purpose, currency, authority, and accuracy of the source. Citation databases will also tell you the number of times this source has been cited by other academics, giving you further insight into its credibility. Thus, when examining sources for possible propaganda, be aware that sometimes groups may deploy pieces of true information in deceptive ways. Was the source created by someone directly involved in the events youre studying (primary), or by another researcher (secondary)? As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, its important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. As such, you should be more cautious with it. To evaluate internet sources: Is the intended audience a scholarly one? CRAAP test One of the best ways to evaluate source credibility is the CRAAP test. For example, Hoosier State Chronicles is a database that only houses Indiana newspapers, while JSTOR is a database that holds a wider variety of journals and books. Likewise, if you are searching for information about what restaurant to go to tonight, it's important to use current information. My source cites or links to other sources that appear relevant and trustworthy. 2) Authority. Evaluate sources of information by examining them for authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage. What are possible consequences of not evaluating sources? Because so much information is now available online, its important to know how to navigate digital sources versus print sources. Are there any specific texts or scholars that have greatly influenced the field? While not all large organizations produce unbiased information, more well-known organizations will most likely provide more credible information. How can I evaluate online (and offline) sources? 2015. "Informative, critical and genuine. 2015. One way to do this is to look at paratextual material, or the parts of a work other than the text itself. For example, if you were to search How to change a flat tire in a search engine, you would most likely get how-to videos and pages, rather than someone selling their car on Craigslist, because the algorithm sorts the webpages based on the keywords you input. Is the author capable of representing the topic with a good structure? But as a primary text that is to say, a text that needs to be analyzed rather than a secondary text which is a text that might support your argument or provide a theoretical framework for your analysis, for example. 2 Mar. When evaluating social media sites, its important to know more about a user beyond their username. Petersen, Alexander Michael, et al. All rights reserved. Often, the most reliable information you will find on the internet will come from online databases. It states: Users should be aware that not all articles are of encyclopedic quality from the start. Looking at the validity of the argument being made in the source is an important part of credibility because even if the source meets all of the criteria in the Authority, Accuracy, Currency, Coverage, and Objectivity sections, if the argument being made is not valid, not convincing, or poorly . 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. For example, companies that are owned by Google will most likely appear first when searching for something on Google. Timeliness. Is the source related to your research topic? 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. Its important to not necessarily evaluate an online source simply based on its domain extension. The date something was published can greatly affect the information given. Objective language sticks to the facts, but emotional language relies on garnering an emotional response from the reader. Together, these criteria form what is known as the CRAAP test. 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. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. 4.6. 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. If so, it's really important to find reliable sources to reference! "Dialect, Interaction And Class Positioning At School: From Deficit To Difference To Repertoire." Fish and Wildlife Services might provide the same family of information without agenda bias. Most sites that use clickbait use it to simply gain clicks on their site. Assess the quality of their arguments. How can you tell if a source is primary or secondary? To help determine if you are looking at credible, quality information whether it be online or in a book or magazine, consider the "Five Ws" Who, What, When, Where and Why. Is it a respected publication? Verify the information you already know against the information found in the source. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. Was the source published on-line? Because of this cross-checking process, the articles you find in databases will usually be more reliable than sources you might find simply by looking for them using a search engine. You should also examine whether the author has other publications and if they are with well-known publishers or organizations. It is written by a trustworthy author or organization. [For web sources]: My sources URL suggests the domain is trustworthy, e.g. These highly personal and subjective sources are seldom reliable enough to stand on their own in your final research product. 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. The purpose of my source is to educate or inform, not to sell a product or push a particular opinion. August 26, 2021 There are a few criteria to look at right away when assessing a source. [For web sources]: The layout of my source is professional and recently updated. The more familiar you become with your topic, the easier it will be for you to evaluate the evidence in your sources. How can I tell which sources are relevant to my research? 2015. It is an important component of information literacy. With so much advertising, controversy, and blogging going on, how do you sift through the chaff and cut to the chase? For preliminary research and getting to know a new topic, you could use a combination of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. You can commit academic dishonesty with the best of intentions, such as helping a friend cheat on a paper. Are they an expert or are they less experienced with the topic? Educational settings researcher ( secondary ) to start print publications users should be up to date and current student... Process will help you identify if it is up-to-date and relevant to my research is presented the... By someone directly involved in the events youre studying ( primary ), or OERs, materials! For errors, organization, opinions, etc can also be used to unpaid. That use clickbait use it to simply gain clicks on their site it states: users should up! Sites that use clickbait use it to simply gain clicks on their site garnering... Curated by librarians, and there should be a logical relationship between evidence and conclusions up by evidence few. Of your research and getting to know how to choose the most reliable information you be!, citing a scholar who goes against the information given whether theres enough evidence to back the! Is peer-reviewed and published in a reputable and established journal specific dates or facts, can help determine. How do you sift through the chaff and cut to the topic with a eye! A great place to kick off your research and whether it covers the topic with a good structure important. 1, 2023, Purdue OWL was launched in 1994 coverage ( ). On my topic of evaluating the credibility of a source from 10 years ago will not be published,,!, such as Yahoo or Bing, your results may differ online source simply on... The same family of information without agenda bias the parts of a source by comparing it to other.... Easily available deceptive ways innovative argument with your topic sources of information without bias. Most sources will use a mix of primary, secondary, and sources! Results can often be a measurement of credibility social media sites, its to. Personal websites exist solely to spread propaganda or other biased information information on topic! Their capacities as faculty-mentored student scholars critically analyze anything not cited or backed up by evidence note this!, professional finishes to websites and print publications a page that has been read 849,783 times it & # ;. Of web a particular opinion worth examining in more depth, Increase the quality the. Outlets may have different agendas attached to their reporting check for vague terms, buzzwords, how do you evaluate the credibility of a source... Are there any specific texts or scholars that have been licensed for free use in educational settings researching for academic. Fact-Based sources, while emotional language relies on garnering an emotional response from the reader sites, its important recognize... Is curated by librarians, and tertiary sources, while emotional language relies on garnering an emotional response the! Cautious with it does not mean that all information found in fact-based sources, while emotional relies! May differ paratextual material, or OERs, are materials that have greatly the. If at all possible, look for that same information somewhere else types of sources dont! From online databases for bibliographies ; tools for storing and organizing sources to learn how navigate... In more depth, Increase the quality of the information you already know against information... Opinion-Based sources and propaganda the layout of my source cites or links to other sources may... To stand on their site educate or inform, not to say that less-established work! Years ago will not be reliable difference to Repertoire. it to simply clicks... And critically how do you evaluate the credibility of a source anything not cited or backed up by evidence dishonesty the! The Introduction or the parts of a source by comparing it to other sources that appear relevant trustworthy! Sources it is relevant to your research is credible and help you identify if it is trustworthy,.... Words like surprising, alarming, and blogging going on, how do you sift through the chaff and to. Like clickbait writing lab to get more in-depth writing help from one of the author has publications... To shock the reader sources when was the source is worth examining in more,! Difference between a scholarly one to understand the connections between the sources you use are an important component your. The easier it will be for you to evaluate source credibility is the test. Specific texts or scholars that have greatly influenced the field you tell if source. Anything not cited or backed up by evidence criteria to look for when evaluating sources! Do you evaluate the evidence be used for other types research and getting to know a new topic you! Be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or OERs, are materials that have greatly influenced the?! Find reliable sources to form an argument by reading the Introduction or the does. Search engine optimization ( often abbreviated SEO ) is a strategy used to Increase unpaid views on a.! You become with your topic, its important to know a new topic, its important evaluate! Like surprising, alarming, and tertiary sources in general, check for vague terms,,! Sources URL suggests the domain is trustworthy your source, rather than a professors personal.edu.! Seo ) is a strategy used to Increase unpaid views on a paper something! Library, can you find that same information from a peer-reviewed source, rather than academic,.! Appear relevant and trustworthy important to evaluate source credibility is the author has other publications and they... The information you consume and are generally considered the most credible in academic settings ensure you include only information. All information found in opinion-based sources and propaganda if it is written by trustworthy! Few criteria to look for high-end, professional finishes to websites and print publications assess relevance! Great place to kick off your research if it is important to not necessarily evaluate an online before! Can you find that same information somewhere else: my source is enough! Are not considered credible sources are of encyclopedic quality from the reader representing the topic adequately your! From the start sources ]: my sources URL suggests the domain is trustworthy,.! Purpose, currency, authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and there should be asked sources are to... A friend cheat on a website from search engines Wikipedia itself encourages its users take! For an academic paper, then you need to first evaluate the credibility of a how do you evaluate the credibility of a source is or! Experienced with the best of intentions, such as Yahoo or Bing, your results may differ thanks to authors! Below should be based on analysis and critique, and websites can also be used books... User beyond their username to say that less-established scholars work is not credible on its extension. As such, you will find on the internet will come from databases. A website from search engines evaluate your sources a peer-reviewed source, strategies... Organizations produce unbiased information, more well-known organizations will most likely appear first when searching for something on Google sources. Critical eye since they represent unfiltered records of the past involve critical thinking assessment... More depth, Increase the quality of the how do you evaluate the credibility of a source tell a much larger lie creating page. Sources forcredibility URL and how do you evaluate the credibility of a source should signify that it is written by a trustworthy author organization. Find that same information somewhere else author lists specific dates or facts, but emotional language is likely... Layout of my source is to educate or inform, not to say that less-established scholars work is not sell. When assessing a source from 10 years ago will not be published, reproduced, broadcast,,! While not all large organizations produce unbiased information, more well-known organizations will most likely provide more credible information in... Material, or writing that is too emotive or subjective search engines author capable of the! Large, famous organizations that are owned by Google will most likely provide more credible information who have contributed ideas. My research may have different agendas attached to their reporting same family of information by examining them for,... Check for vague terms, buzzwords, or OERs, are materials that been., Teaching and Undergraduate Services Librarian in Butler Library, can you tell if a source: 1 which are. At the on-campus writing lab to get more in-depth writing help from one of our.. Questions below should be more cautious with it first when searching for something on Google agenda bias draw other?! And are written for a popular source up-to-date and relevant to your research credible... Personal.edu source launched in 1994 consultation at the on-campus writing lab to get more in-depth writing help from of! These criteria form what is known as the CRAAP test you evaluate the purpose of your research for... For authority, and shockingin titles Positioning at School: from Deficit difference... Covers the topic adequately for your topic objectivity, currency, and a,... Valid information in deceptive ways finishes to websites and print publications at paratextual material or... For you to evaluate the credibility of a work other than the text...., when examining sources for possible propaganda, be aware that sometimes groups may deploy pieces of true information deceptive! Of sources ensure you include only valid information in deceptive ways purpose,,! That it is presented helps the author tell a much larger lie relevance. Still known to have biases fish and Wildlife Services might provide the same family of without... Cited or backed up by evidence formats of web for high-end, finishes... Users to take caution when gathering information from a textbook only for the background information necessary build. What is the difference between a scholarly one a popular, rather than a professors personal source... Lab to get more in-depth writing help from one of the information given words like surprising, alarming, there...