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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Of course, there is no such link. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. What experience does the author have? Is it in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal (i.e. Is the intended audience a scholarly one? Finding the authors educational background and areas of expertise will help determine whether the author has experience in what theyre writing about. Most sites that use clickbait use it to simply gain clicks on their site. Example of just one fallacious quotation that can be found online. June 2, 2022 If you use one of these in your research, it is probably a primary source. 2 Mar. from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/evaluating-sources/. How can I evaluate online (and offline) sources? The author's level of expertise on the topic he or she is writing about could take the form of an advanced degree or other extensive experience in the field. Similarly, Wikipedia is not considered a reliable source due to the fact that it can be edited by anyone at any time. The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching. 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. Mailing Address: 3501 University Blvd. Learning to evaluate can be tricky, so we've put together a tool to get you started with evaluating resources for your assessments. For these reasons, they are typically considered credible sources. This is especially important when youre surveying a large number of sources (e.g., in a literature review or systematic review). Only then will an article be published in a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal. However, the deeper you get into your topic, the more comprehensive your research will need to be. Determining a websites credibility can be especially confusing for websites with a .org extension that appear to have a governmental or educational affiliation. Evaluating Your Sources. For example, as recently as the 1960s, most scholarly linguists believed African American Vernacular English to be a deficient, broken form of standard American English reflective of African Americans lack of cognitive abilities. Check for contact information and the credentials of the author. 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)? As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. This process will help you determine if a source is credible and help you identify if it is relevant to your research. With so much advertising, controversy, and blogging going on, how do you sift through the chaff and cut to the chase? There are no glaring grammatical or orthographic errors. (2022, December 07). This website collects and publishes the ideas of individuals who have contributed those ideas in their capacities as faculty-mentored student scholars. Your judgment should involve critical thinking and assessment of purpose, currency, authority, and accuracy of the source. It's also important to choose credible sources, evaluate them critically, and use them effectively to support your argument. Propaganda is the (usually biased) spreading of information for a specific person, group, event, or cause. How do you evaluate the credibility of a source? Open Educational Resources, or OERs, are materials that have been licensed for free use in educational settings. 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. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). When evaluating the credibility of a website, look first at the URL. Source Credibility: How To Select The Best Sources Finding sources for research is important, but using unreliable sources will hurt your credibility and make . The Big 5 Criteria can help you evaluate your sources for credibility: Currency: Check the publication date and determine whether it is sufficiently current for your topic. Opinion: The Purdue OWL is the best website for writing help. 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? Students understand the importance of critically assessing a source's credibility. When Isaac Newton said the famous quote "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.", The underlining is that all his work was made possible because he learned from time-proofed know. Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. Are they an innovator, or a follower and promoter of the status quo? However, if you are researching the Peloponnesian War, a source from 200 years ago would be reasonable to refer to. There are six (6) criteria that should be applied when evaluating any Web site: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, coverage, and appearance. Different websites have different domain extensions, that is, the final string of letters following the period on a websites domain name. 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. 1) Accuracy. Preliminary evaluation helps you to pick out relevant sources in your search, while in-depth evaluation allows you to understand how theyre related. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University. [For academic journals]: My source is peer-reviewed and published in a reputable and established journal. Communication & Mass Media Complete. For each criterion, there are several questions to be asked. If the material does not measure up to expected standards of scholarly work, it may still be of use to you. By using our site, you agree to our. Does the source support its arguments and conclusions with evidence? You can also consider using an academic database like LexisNexis or government open data to get started. PsycINFO. Templates for well-designed websites are inexpensive and easily available. Web. All rights reserved. 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. The process of evaluating scholarly materials also enhances your general skills and ability to: One of the best ways to evaluate source credibility is the CRAAP test. A myriad of organisations offer analysis, data, intelligence and research on developments in international higher education. 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). This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. It is an important component of information literacy. Beware of using Wikipedia as a source for academic or journalistic writing. Authority. 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 the Credibility of Your Sources Remember, your use of sources is a means of supporting the argument you make. 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. 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 youre reading an opinion-based source, ask yourself whether theres enough evidence to back up the opinions. Let us discuss each criterion in detail. 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. In fact, even Wikipedia itself encourages its users to take caution when gathering information from its site. It can be very unclear (often by design!) What sources you use depend on the kind of research you are conducting. East, Adelphi, MD 20783. Enjoy! Educational resources end in .edu, and are generally considered the most credible in academic settings. However, it can be a good starting point for general information and finding other sources. For example, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will provide only that information which supports their cause, whereas the U.S. Here are five ways to help you identify a reliable source: 1. Privacy policy. Transcript Need Help? Despite the large amount of information available, both in print and online, not all of it is valid, useful, or accurate. An article that has been peer-reviewed is credible, but it still might . You may have to go back to the home page of the site to see credentials. For example, if you are researching cutting-edge scientific technology, a source from 10 years ago will not be sufficiently current. 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. Privacy policy. It ensures that you collect accurate information to back up the arguments you make and the conclusions you draw. Do they benefit financially by promoting a particular view? 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. Browse through the Table of Contents and the Index. Authority. The date something was published can greatly affect the information given. It is written by a trustworthy author or organization. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 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. Teen Tech University. You will likely use a combination of the three types over the course of your research process. Use information from a textbook only for the background information necessary to build the foundation for your more innovative argument. from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/, What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. Discuss the information you find with your health care provider before you rely on it. My source cites or links to other sources that appear relevant and trustworthy. A credible source is free from bias and backed up with evidence. It should be evident who created the content. Whether or not your source is peer-reviewed, it is still a good idea to evaluate it based on these five factors. Secondary sources are articles that help people to understand their research topics. Remember, anyone can publish information on the Internet. Here are five ways to help you identify a reliable source: 1. There are several factors that contribute to a source's credibility. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. Different news outlets may have different agendas attached to their reporting. When looking for sources online, its important to recognize which article titles sound like clickbait. Note that this does not mean that all information found in well-packaged sources is credible. If a bibliographic citation seems promising, its a good idea to spend a bit more time with the source before you determine its credibility. Can you identify who the author is? What is the credibility of secondary sources? We are constantly surrounded by information, and it is not always easy to know which sources to trust. 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. During stressful times, most people lose their appetite Even if the individual claim is true, the way it is presented helps the author tell a much larger lie. For tips on getting a second opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, read on! Understanding SEO is important because it dictates the initial information youre presented with when using a search engine for your research. My source is recent enough to contain up-to-date information on my topic. 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. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. The test focuses on five key aspects that can indicate the quality of a source and includes questions to ask of a source to evaluate its quality. Examine the source's and author's credentials and affiliations Does it look professional to you? To ensure you include only valid information in your research, evaluate your sources using the criteria below. Evaluating the credibility of your sources is one of the first steps in the research process. As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. All rights reserved. Thus, when examining sources for possible propaganda, be aware that sometimes groups may deploy pieces of true information in deceptive ways. 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. 3) Currency. Clickbait is a type of sensationalized advertisement that seeks to attract viewers through catchy or seemingly unbelievable headlines. Podcasts are essentially audio files that can be streamed on a computer or mobile device, like portable radio. 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). For example, if you are researching a scientific topic, you will want to be sure you have the most up-to-date information. 2 . Blogs can range in subject, from seasonal fashion tips to discussing every one of Emily Dickinsons poems. A well-known strategy for testing the quality of sources is the CRAAP test. Evaluate Sources With the Big 5 Criteria. A panel of reviewers in the same subject area decide whether a submission should be accepted for publication based on a set of criteria. What about the news? For web sources, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy. 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. 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. Legitimate OERs can be a great resource. Evaluating Primary Sources It is important to examine primary sources with a critical eye since they represent unfiltered records of the past. How do you know that your sources are of value? However, the .edu domain extension is reserved only for educational institutions, and the .gov domain extension is only used by governmental institutions. A credible source is free from bias and backed up with evidence. Does the Author Have an Agenda? Web. Revised on Propaganda often relies on slogans or emotionally-charged images to influence an audience. For example, a journal article discussing the efficacy of a particular medication may seem credible, but if the publisher is the manufacturer of the medication, you cant be sure that it is free from bias.
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A.org extension that appear to have a governmental or educational affiliation //www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/, what are credible sources list 1... Is peer-reviewed and published in a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal a list of potential credible sources list 1., both from digital newspapers and websites that end in.edu also into! Quotation that can be found online theyre large organizations then will an article be published in a peer-reviewed scholarly (. Evaluate the credibility of a source from 10 years ago will not be,. Whether a submission should be accepted for publication based on these five factors a... And are generally considered the most up-to-date information bad or good '' or `` right or wrong should..Org extension that appear relevant and trustworthy analyze anything not cited or backed up with evidence its possible find... Have been licensed for free use in educational settings it look professional to you website writing... Can I evaluate online sources forcredibility evaluating the credibility of a website, look first at URL. Recent enough to contain up-to-date information starting point for general information and the.... Page, you agree to our privacy policy for publication based on a computer or mobile,. And an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University signing up you are going to use the & quot CRAAP... Not cited or backed up with evidence are several questions to be asked printing this page, might!