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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. To evaluate a source, ask yourself a series of questions that address Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (aka CRAAP questions!). There are a few criteria to look at right away when assessing a source. from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/evaluating-sources/. The credibility of an author is very important in determining the quality of sources you have located and are thinking of using for your research project. Finding the authors educational background and areas of expertise will help determine whether the author has experience in what theyre writing about. Example of just one fallacious quotation that can be found online. You can also consider using an academic database like LexisNexis or government open data to get started. 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. Sometimes, the currency of the source is very important. The questions below should be asked when evaluating any . Audience. Tegan George. They are intended for a scholarly audience, include a full bibliography, and use scholarly or technical language. 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". As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, you can use preliminary evaluation to determine which sources might be relevant. Try out the Dependability Checklist. Does the source provide original information (primary), or does it summarize information from other sources (secondary)? For example, companies that are owned by Google will most likely appear first when searching for something on Google. They are not always reliable and may be written from a biased or uninformed perspective, but they can still be cited in some contexts. 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. There is a way to contact the author or publisher of my source. The importance of the information for your needs. Assess the credibility of your resources. Remember that scholarly sources often have a very particular audience in mind, and popular sources are written for a more general audience. If you are interested in using a YouTube video in your research, look at whether the publisher is a larger organization (such as TED or National Geographic) or a single user that only publishes under a username. This will give you an overview of the source. Both of these individuals have blue checks next to their Twitter handles, which means the accounts are verified. 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. This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. Do you recognize the source? How does the author situate their argument in the field? Coverage (relevance): Consider whether the source is relevant to your research and whether it covers the topic adequately for your . It can be very unclear (often by design!) Use this checklist to determine if an article is credible or not: Revised on However, if you are researching the Peloponnesian War, a source from 200 years ago would be reasonable to refer to. These highly personal and subjective sources are seldom reliable enough to stand on their own in your final research product. Petersen, Alexander Michael, et al. What sources you use depend on the kind of research you are conducting. Relevance: Refers to the degree to which the information is related . If a bibliographic citation seems promising, its a good idea to spend a bit more time with the source before you determine its credibility. My source is relevant to my research topic. from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/, What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. The date something was published can greatly affect the information given. For tips on getting a second opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, read on! If at all possible, look for that same information from a peer-reviewed source, rather than a professors personal .edu source. "Informative, critical and genuine. Is the language objective or emotional? Because of the .org domain extension, it appears more credible. Below are some suggestions for evaluating digital texts and a breakdown of the different types of sources available online. A credibility checklist is a place to start, but it's engagement with the source that counts. 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. Name recognition is often the first thing you consider to determine reliability. Transcript Need Help? There are two key steps: Ask questions before you trust what you read or hear. Your assignment might have parameters on format and medium, but . When evaluating social media sites, its important to know more about a user beyond their username. For example, if you were interested in examining how scientists use Twitter as a platform, you might find yourself quoting a tweet by Bill Nye or the physicist Brian Cox. Are they an expert or are they less experienced with the topic? Information can usually be divided into three categories: fact, opinion, and propaganda. Government-affiliated websites end in .gov. 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). 2 Mar. Do. Another form of clickbait is a page that challenges the viewer to a quiz or test. Purpose: Think about the intended purpose of the information source and try to determine its aim. Possessing these skills will give you the ability to objectively and successfully critique online materials. 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. When doing research, you will use a variety of sources such as books, newspaper articles, magazines or journals, and websites. 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. Different websites have different domain extensions, that is, the final string of letters following the period on a websites domain name. This process will help you determine if a source is credible and help you identify if it is relevant to your research. The reliability (source, evidence, truthfulness) of the information. Many people have personal websites, such as blogs, that are not associated with a larger group or organization. Let us discuss each criterion in detail. "Reputation And Impact In Academic Careers." You may have found good information, but your provider can tell you whether it's good for you. These will entice the reader by stating that the reader probably cannotanswer each question correctly. 2015. Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching. When an article or website is authored anonymously it has little credibility. Published on Indeed, many articles start out by giving oneperhaps not particularly evenhandedview of the subject, and it is after a long process of discussion, debate, and argument that they gradually take on aconsensusform. Perspective. This is not to say that less-established scholars work is not credible. Does the person or organization that published the work have an agenda (ex. As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. Newspapers can be a great way to glean first-hand information about a historical event or situate your research topic within a broader context. Podcasts are essentially audio files that can be streamed on a computer or mobile device, like portable radio. This is especially important when youre surveying a large number of sources (e.g., in a literature review or systematic review). Privacy policy. However, the strategies used for books, articles and websites can also be used for other types . For example, critical theorist Slavoj ieks reputation and credibility has been significantly damaged after a 2014 accusation of plagiarism. Does the website have a lot of advertisements or sponsored content? By using an algorithm, SEO works by locating keywords and sorting information for relevancy and accuracy.
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