Sometimes, citing a scholar who goes against the tide of established thinking provides you with ammunition for a compelling devils advocate argument. PNAS Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 111.43 (2014): 15316-15321. 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. 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. What are possible consequences of not evaluating sources? Non-scholarly books might deal with scholarly subject matter sociology, for example, or politics. An article that has been peer-reviewed is credible, but it still might . It states: Users should be aware that not all articles are of encyclopedic quality from the start. Do the same for any other websites that dont meet the high standard for academic integrity. 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. If you cannot find that information corroborated in scholarly sources, thats a red flag that the information is not trustworthy, and you should not include it in your argument. Can the information you found be verified elsewhere, even via a simple Google search? The criteria for evaluating each point depend on your research topic. 2) Authority. Propaganda often relies on slogans or emotionally-charged images to influence an audience. They are intended for a scholarly audience, include a full bibliography, and use scholarly or technical language. Be sure they have a Creative Commons license allowing them to be duplicated and shared, and meet the CRAAP test criteria, especially in the authority section. This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. 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. For example, there are on-line journals that utilize peer-review thus providing greater credibility to the publication. A credible source is one that provides accurate and trustworthy information from experts in the field of study. There are many different types of sources, which can be divided into three categories: primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. Are there any specific texts or scholars that have greatly influenced the field? Here is a list of potential credible sources list: 1. This process will help you determine if a source is credible and help you identify if it is relevant to your research. This allows you to: A credible source should pass the CRAAP testand follow these guidelines: The CRAAP test is an acronym to help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are considering using. Below are some questions to ask and things to consider as you read through a source. In some disciplines, material can become outdated very swiftly. Often, it's possible to evaluate the credibility of web sources based on the title, date, and URL. My source is relevant to my research topic. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This is not to say that less-established scholars work is not credible. Using credible and relevant sources is important. Students are able to identify how a credible source could be used for a particular need. A quick. A fact is something that is known to be true. Before you evaluate your source, you need to first evaluate the purpose of your research. If so, it should have a clear bibliography that you will also be able to consult for further sources. Often, the most reliable information you will find on the internet will come from online databases. Blogs can range in subject, from seasonal fashion tips to discussing every one of Emily Dickinsons poems. For further guidance, Kaneisha Gaston, Teaching and Undergraduate Services Librarian in Butler Library, can help you evaluate online sources forcredibility. While faculty at a university are reputable, this information does not go through the peer-review process discussed earlier. Once you have an idea of the types of sources you need for your research, you can spend time evaluating individual sources. 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. 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. Academics have a long memory; too many transgressions into the land of unreliable sources, and youll be a marked writer with a marred reputation. Is there an About Us page, or a way to contact the author or organization if you need clarification on a claim they have made? What sources you use depend on the kind of research you are conducting. They are usually part of a series or follow a theme. The information should be up to date and current. This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. Discuss the information you find with your health care provider before you rely on it. When looking for sources online, its important to recognize which article titles sound like clickbait. In fact, even Wikipedia itself encourages its users to take caution when gathering information from its site. PsycINFO. 4) Coverage. Both of these individuals have blue checks next to their Twitter handles, which means the accounts are verified. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University. There are several factors that contribute to a source's credibility. First, what are the qualifications of the author? The OER Commons is a public digital library that is curated by librarians, and a solid place to start. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). These sections usually provide information about who the author is and what sort of . A panel of reviewers in the same subject area decide whether a submission should be accepted for publication based on a set of criteria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. Transcript Need Help? If you need some guidance on finding good sources, set up a research consultation with Columbia Libraries to find credible academic sources to support your work. Search Engine Optimization Search engine optimization (often abbreviated SEO) is a strategy used to increase unpaid views on a website from search engines. Perspective. For preliminary research and getting to know a new topic, you could use a combination of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. Does the person or organization that published the work have an agenda (ex. what a sources motive is. For example, if you are researching about a time-sensitive topic such as a current event, then it's important to find sources that have been published recently. Popular sources like magazines and news articles are typically written by journalists. Is the journal indexed in academic databases? These will entice the reader by stating that the reader probably cannotanswer each question correctly. You will likely use a combination of the three types over the course of your research process. Together, these criteria form what is known as the CRAAP test. Because clickbait sources exist simply to promote webpages, they are not considered credible sources. How does the source engage with them? 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. Evaluating the Credibility of Your Sources Remember, your use of sources is a means of supporting the argument you make. Similarly, Wikipedia is not considered a reliable source due to the fact that it can be edited by anyone at any time. The materials collected here do not express the views of, or positions held by, Purdue University. Google Scholar is a search engine for academic sources. As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. It is an important component of information literacy. 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. It is written by a trustworthy author or organization. The importance of the information for your needs. an article that is evaluated by other experts in the field) or published by a university press, professional society, or scientific publisher (all of which also operate peer-review processes)? An example of a sensationalistic clickbait headline. Web. The Purdue OWL is clearly the only safe choice for student writers. A well-known strategy for testing the quality of sources is the CRAAP test. [For web sources]: My sources URL suggests the domain is trustworthy, e.g. Privacy policy. Websites with some sort of commercial aspect end in .com (or .co.uk, or another country-specific domain). Are you directly analyzing the source itself (primary), or only using it for background information (secondary). The questions below should be asked when evaluating any . If youre reading a fact-based source, be sure that it doesnt oversimplify the topic. As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, you can use preliminary evaluation to determine which sources might be relevant. Among them are the author's level of expertise, her point of view, and the source's publication date. As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. If the material does not measure up to expected standards of scholarly work, it may still be of use to you. from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/, What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. 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. Remember, anyone can publish information on the Internet. For each criterion, there are several questions to be asked. Citation Styles & ToolsQuick MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides for bibliographies; tools for storing and organizing sources. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. (2022, December 07). (74) $3.99. These types of sources usually dont include a bibliography and are written for a popular, rather than academic, audience. As you read, try to understand the connections between the sources. It can be especially challenging to verify the credibility of online sources. Evaluating Your Sources. PDF. To evaluate internet sources: Do. This means that the sources you reference need to be credible and authoritative. Consult the index for key terms or the names of important scholars. Domain extensions help differentiate the type of websites and the different purposes they serve. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. The CRAAP test is an acronym to help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are considering using. Audience. Is a source of funding disclosed? Has this author been cited as a source by other scholars or experts in the field? What other works has the author published? By using an algorithm, SEO works by locating keywords and sorting information for relevancy and accuracy. Research 101: Credibility is contextual Students recognize that credibility may vary by context and information need. Evaluating source credibility is an important information literacy skill. How do you evaluate the source of information? Are you writing a research paper? When examining online news articles, find out what you can about the organization behind the articles. Determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth, Increase the quality of the information you consume. Because so much information is now available online, its important to know how to navigate digital sources versus print sources. My source is recent enough to contain up-to-date information on my topic. 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. . Paper Research Paper Sources for a Research Paper. How can you tell if a source is primary or secondary? Propaganda is the (usually biased) spreading of information for a specific person, group, event, or cause. Retrieved February 27, 2023, Use preliminary evaluation to determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth. The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching. Audience. I have checked that it is supported by evidence and/or verifiable elsewhere. It can also involve the selective reporting of true information in order to deceive an audience. 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. a .edu address. Because anyone can produce a podcast, be aware that biased podcasts exist, and some might be used as propaganda. Possessing these skills will give you the ability to objectively and successfully critique online materials. George, T. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. Is the field currently dominated by particular theories or. Do they confirm or challenge established knowledge? Web. If you are going to use the Internet as your main source for information, beware! Currency: Timeliness of the information and whether it is up-to-date and relevant to the topic at hand. Are the journals policies on copyright and peer review easily available? If you need some guidance on finding good sources, set up a, Evaluating the Credibility of Your Sources, Academic Integrity Best Practices for Faculty, research consultation with Columbia Libraries. If a bibliographic citation seems promising, its a good idea to spend a bit more time with the source before you determine its credibility. All rights reserved. {"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":"