This process will help you determine if a source is credible and help you identify if it is relevant to your research. 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. If youre reading an opinion-based source, ask yourself whether theres enough evidence to back up the opinions. While social media is not regularly used as a source in research, sometimes you might use a YouTube video or a tweet from a well-known individual. There are large, famous organizations that are still known to have biases. It is important to consider how the author uses these sources. 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. Is your topic covered in enough depth to be helpful? Coverage (relevance): Consider whether the source is relevant to your research and whether it covers the topic adequately for your . These will give you a clear idea of the authors intentions, the parameters of the research, and even the conclusions they draw. 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. Columbia University in the City of New York. 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. 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. Reducing the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables does not influence the consumption of these foods. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. However, the strategies used for books, articles and websites can also be used for other types . It states: Users should be aware that not all articles are of encyclopedic quality from the start. If the author is affiliated with a reputable institution or organization, what are its values and goals? Retrieved March 1, 2023, A credible source is free from bias and backed up with evidence. Evaluating Sources | Methods & Examples. By following these guidelines, you can produce a high-quality research paper that showcases your research skills and impresses your audience. There are a lot of sources out there, and it can be hard to tell whats credible and what isnt at first glance. Different websites have different domain extensions, that is, the final string of letters following the period on a websites domain name. Is the author affiliated with a university or another institution? Using credible and relevant sources is important. A credible source should pass the CRAAP testand follow these guidelines: Peer review is a process of evaluating submissions to an academic journal. However, you might not want to quote a tweet by someone with an anonymous name and a Twitter handle such as @iluvscience321. 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. If you have never heard of the source, you probably should do some research to learn about it. Google Scholar also has a function called Cited By that can show you where the author has been cited. 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. Foods that are easily accessible and quick to prepare are more likely to be eaten. Remember, your use of sources is a means of supporting the argument you make. The materials collected here do not express the views of, or positions held by, Purdue University. Beware of grandiose claims, and critically analyze anything not cited or backed up by evidence. These highly personal and subjective sources are seldom reliable enough to stand on their own in your final research product. Similarly, YouTube videos can either be posted by a large organization or a single user. Are there any specific texts or scholars that have greatly influenced the field? Determine whether they're relevant to your topic. A credibility checklist is a place to start, but it's engagement with the source that counts. Always make sure to properly cite your sources to avoid plagiarism. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. This means that the sources you reference need to be credible and authoritative. Google Apps. 3. For tips on getting a second opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, read on! Teen Tech University. You need to make sure the source is accurate and credible. You can also read abstracts, prefaces, introductions, and conclusions. Not all sources are created equal - especially when it comes to advanced research. Check for contact information and the credentials of the author. Remember that scholarly sources often have a very particular audience in mind, and popular sources are written for a more general audience. . How can you tell if a source is primary or secondary? Are you directly analyzing the source itself (primary), or only using it for background information (secondary). Social media is simply defined as any type of digital space that allows users to create content and share it with others in a social setting. The materials collected here do not express the views of, or positions held by, Purdue University. Question everything, books, articles, and websites can all be unreliable sources. While not all large organizations produce unbiased information, more well-known organizations will most likely provide more credible information. One of the best ways to evaluate source credibility is the CRAAP test. For example, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will provide only that information which supports their cause, whereas the U.S. They are usually part of a series or follow a theme. "Informative, critical and genuine. 4) Coverage. These will entice the reader by stating that the reader probably cannotanswer each question correctly. As you navigate through different sources, you need to examine the authors and the websites other credentials before making assumptions simply by the domain extension. The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching. A quick. Both National Geographicand TEDuse .com domain extension, despite the fact that theyre large organizations. Communication & Mass Media Complete. . Propaganda is the (usually biased) spreading of information for a specific person, group, event, or cause. 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. 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. Examine source in full text (PDF or original print is preferable) for errors, organization, opinions, etc. CRAAP test One of the best ways to evaluate source credibility is the CRAAP test. Timeliness. As such, you should be more cautious with it. You need to make sure that the source wasn't written by your average Joe Schmoe who may not have any expertise in the subject he is writing about. 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. Lateral reading is the act of evaluating the credibility of a source by comparing it to other sources. (2022, December 07). Answer (1 of 5): Sources are the foundations not only of journalism but humanity itself. Your judgment should involve critical thinking and assessment of purpose, currency, authority, and accuracy of the source. What is the importance of material sources? Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? Websites with some sort of commercial aspect end in .com (or .co.uk, or another country-specific domain). 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. Authority. Though this sort of vandalism is rare, it is not unheard of. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. 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. 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. 2 Mar. Are your sources credible? Similarly, Wikipedia is not considered a reliable source due to the fact that it can be edited by anyone at any time. East, Adelphi, MD 20783. 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. If a bibliographic citation seems promising, its a good idea to spend a bit more time with the source before you determine its credibility. Use this checklist to determine if an article is credible or not: Frequently asked questions about evaluating sources, Determine whether theyre relevant to your topic. For preliminary research and getting to know a new topic, you could use a combination of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. An example of a References section from a Wikipedia article that has been carefully sourced. These texts will have scholarly credibility. Are there any oversights or weaknesses in the research? How do you evaluate credibility sources? Can it be interpreted differently? My source is relevant to my research topic. Consult the index for key terms or the names of important scholars. It ensures that you collect accurate information to back up the arguments you make and the conclusions you draw. Could the evidence be used to draw other conclusions? There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Use preliminary evaluation to determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth. To determine if a source is primary or secondary, ask yourself: Some types of source are nearly always primary: works of art and literature, raw statistical data, official documents and records, and personal communications (e.g. Evaluating Sources for Credibility What does it mean for a source to be credible? Google Scholar is a search engine for academic sources. The criteria for evaluating each point depend on your research topic. Can you identify who the author is? The ability to navigate and evaluate digital resources is essential to both educators and students. Objective language sticks to the facts, but emotional language relies on garnering an emotional response from the reader. NOTE: If you are researching varied opinions and biases on a topic, then such sources would be appropriate. If you are researching for an academic paper, then you need to have very credible,. Petersen, Alexander Michael, et al. To effectively evaluate online materials, you must be able to do proper speed reading and skimming of content, as well as citing references. Do. It is important to critically evaluate images you use for research, study, and presentations. What is the credibility of secondary sources? Newspapers can be a great way to glean first-hand information about a historical event or situate your research topic within a broader context. Because clickbait sources exist simply to promote webpages, they are not considered credible sources. Consider the tone, style, vocabulary, level of information, and assumptions the author makes about the reader. 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