how do you evaluate the credibility of a source
When you verify the information in one source with information you find in another source, this is called cross-referencing or cross-checking. As you dig deeper into your scholarly research, books and academic journals are usually your best bet. % of people told us that this article helped them. Similarly, YouTube videos can either be posted by a large organization or a single user. 2 Mar. Its important to not necessarily evaluate an online source simply based on its domain extension. Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? Do you recognize the source? 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. Make sure the source is written by a trustworthy author and/or institution. If so, it should have a clear bibliography that you will also be able to consult for further sources. This stands for: Purpose: Think about the intended purpose of the information source and try to determine its aim. These sites may include lecture materials and interpretation of sources. Answer (1 of 5): Sources are the foundations not only of journalism but humanity itself. 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. Is the author an expert in their field? On the other hand, some well-known organizations use a .com domain extension. Thus, when examining sources for possible propaganda, be aware that sometimes groups may deploy pieces of true information in deceptive ways. 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. Language & Education: An International Journal 27.2 (2013): 110-128. Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. When evaluating the credibility of a website, look first at the URL. It is an important component of information literacy. Retrieved March 1, 2023, Is the author capable of representing the topic with a good structure? Google Apps. It should be evident who created the content. However, some scholarly sources may be too dense for your particular research needs, so you may need to turn to sources with a more general audience in mind. Perspective. This will give you an overview of the source. Scholarly books will provide an extensive list of references to bolster their academic credibility, whereas non-scholarly books often make claims without any credible referential support. You can use the " CRAAP " test to help you evaluate the information sources you find. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 849,783 times. {"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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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. 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. Another form of clickbait is a page that challenges the viewer to a quiz or test. 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. Is the language objective or emotional? Different news outlets may have different agendas attached to their reporting. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Do the same for any other websites that dont meet the high standard for academic integrity. What are examples of academic dishonesty? This position and the conclusions the author comes to should be supported by evidence from direct observation or from other sources. Can it be interpreted differently? The OER Commons is a public digital library that is curated by librarians, and a solid place to start. 4) Coverage. Last modified on Friday, August 12, 2008 There are many different types of sources, which can be divided into three categories: primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. 2 . Is the field currently dominated by particular theories or. 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. As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, its important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. (2022, December 07). Coverage (relevance): Consider whether the source is relevant to your research and whether it covers the topic adequately for your . 2 Mar. What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. [For web sources]: The layout of my source is professional and recently updated. June 2, 2022 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)? If a source has a list of references, it often means that the source is well-researched and thorough. However, it can be a good starting point for general information and finding other sources. A credibility checklist is a place to start, but it's engagement with the source that counts. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Where does the author work? Use this checklist to determine if an article is credible or not: Utilizing rigorous criteria, a panel of reviewers in the same subject area decide whether to accept each submission for publication. How do you know that your sources are of value? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. How can I evaluate online (and offline) sources? A private individual does not have the credibility needed for academic work; however, a large, established organization like the American Medical Association or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do. When was the website last updated? 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. It's also important to choose credible sources, evaluate them critically, and use them effectively to support your argument. An example of a References section from a Wikipedia article that has been carefully sourced. 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. If at all possible, look for that same information from a peer-reviewed source, rather than a professors personal .edu source. By using our site, you agree to our. For a source to be considered credible it must meet five main obligations: Currency, Relevance . {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid368290-v4-728px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"No Comments
how do you evaluate the credibility of a source