Popular sources like magazines and news articles are typically written by journalists. Credible sources are high quality, evidence-based, reliable, and trustworthy. Verify the information you already know against the information found in the source. Audience. Different news outlets may have different agendas attached to their reporting. References My source cites or links to other sources that appear relevant and trustworthy. 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. Perspective. We are constantly surrounded by information, and it is not always easy to know which sources to trust. Evaluating Primary Sources It is important to examine primary sources with a critical eye since they represent unfiltered records of the past. Evaluating sources for credibility: Which ones are right for your research? from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/evaluating-sources/. 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. What else has the author written? As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. Remember, your use of sources is a means of supporting the argument you make. The originating source (author, publisher, sponsor) of the information. Transcript Need Help? Search Engine Optimization Search engine optimization (often abbreviated SEO) is a strategy used to increase unpaid views on a website from search engines. A credible source should pass the CRAAP testand follow these guidelines: Peer review is a process of evaluating submissions to an academic journal. Although publishers, editorial boards or reviewers usually decide whether books or published articles are accurate and of decent enough quality to be published, anyone can create a Web page with no screening at all; so it is especially important to evaluate information from the Internet. 3 Ways to Evaluate the Credibility of a Source - wikiHow Thinking Skills Critical Thinking How to Evaluate the Credibility of a Source Download Article methods Source Evaluation Help 1 Evaluating Sources for Academic Projects 2 Evaluating Sources for Everyday Life Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Related Articles References Article Summary My source is relevant to my research topic. 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? If the author lists specific dates or facts, can you find that same information somewhere else? Most clickbait articles want to shock the reader, so be aware of words like, Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students. Legitimate OERs can be a great resource. Online scholarly databases that can be trusted and are known to provide useful information for students include LexisNexis and EBSCO. Examine the source's and author's credentials and affiliations 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). Clickbait is a type of sensationalized advertisement that seeks to attract viewers through catchy or seemingly unbelievable headlines. This is not necessarily bad, but it will depend on who published it, why it was published, and how you intend to use the material. An opinion-based source is not necessarily unreliable, but its important to know whether the author recognizes that their opinion is not the only opinion. 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. If a bibliographic citation seems promising, its a good idea to spend a bit more time with the source before you determine its credibility. 2015. Its important to evaluate the sources youre considering using, in order to: You should have a clear idea of your own research question or topic and think critically when evaluating sources. How do you evaluate the credibility of a source? (2022, December 07). A panel of reviewers in the same subject area decide whether a submission should be accepted for publication based on a set of criteria. To effectively evaluate online materials, you must be able to do proper speed reading and skimming of content, as well as citing references. There are a lot of sources out there, and it can be hard to tell whats credible and what isnt at first glance. 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. 1) Accuracy. Columbia University in the City of New York. (2022, December 07). Remember, anyone can publish information on the Internet. Another form of clickbait is a page that challenges the viewer to a quiz or test. The Purdue OWL is clearly the only safe choice for student writers. Objective language sticks to the facts, but emotional language relies on garnering an emotional response from the reader. Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? In general, while you will probably not use a lot of social media in your research, if you do, try to locate the people or groups behind the usernames. Preliminary evaluation is useful as it allows you to: While this preliminary evaluation is an important step in the research process, you should engage with sources more deeply in order to adequately understand them. 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. "Reputation And Impact In Academic Careers." Finally, look at the date of publication to make sure the information is still valid. 4. If you are researching for an academic paper, then you need to have very credible,. In academia, these types of arguments are sometimes more valued than those based on the writings of famous thinkers because they suggest you have the ability to question accepted thinking and push the boundaries of the discipline. Beware of grandiose claims, and critically analyze anything not cited or backed up by evidence. 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? How do you evaluate credibility sources? There are six (6) criteria that should be applied when evaluating any Web site: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, coverage, and appearance. 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)? For tips on getting a second opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, read on! Determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth, Increase the quality of the information you consume. 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. The questions below should be asked when evaluating any . The information should be up to date and current. Understanding SEO is important because it dictates the initial information youre presented with when using a search engine for your research. This is especially important for science. If the name or source is familiar, you may tend to believe the information. If credentials are not listed, that does not mean that the author has no expertise, but it does make it hard for you to evaluate whether he/she/they do and that means the sources may not be appropriate for college level research. 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. If the author is affiliated with a reputable institution or organization, what are its values and goals? You can use the " CRAAP " test to help you evaluate the information sources you find. It ensures that you collect accurate information to back up the arguments you make and the conclusions you draw. However, if you find information that you find useful, that information may be cited in a more reputable footnote. As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, you can use preliminary evaluation to determine which sources might be relevant. Examine each information source you locate and assess sources using the following criteria: Timeliness. 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. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Thus, when examining sources for possible propaganda, be aware that sometimes groups may deploy pieces of true information in deceptive ways. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. by {"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":"
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. These sections usually provide information about who the author is and what sort of . Almost all peer-reviewed journals require a subscription fee. My source is recent enough to contain up-to-date information on my topic. CRAAP test Currency The timeliness of the information. An opinion gives the thoughts of a particular individual or group. There are many different types of sources, which can be divided into three categories: primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. How can I evaluate online (and offline) sources? What about the news? Conclusions that describe something as "bad or good" or "right or wrong" should be examined critically. An example of a sensationalistic clickbait headline. 2 Mar. What is his or her educational background? Google Apps. Once you have an idea of the types of sources you need for your research, you can spend time evaluating individual sources. ACRL Framework: Authority is Constructed and Contextual For example, if you are researching a scientific topic, you will want to be sure you have the most up-to-date information. Information can usually be divided into three categories: fact, opinion, and propaganda. 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. 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. Determining a websites credibility can be especially confusing for websites with a .org extension that appear to have a governmental or educational affiliation. Key points Sources come in many forms. 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. These types of sources usually dont include a bibliography and are written for a popular, rather than academic, audience. Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The information should be up-to-date and current. Using the library websites database search engine, use the advanced search to restrict your search results to peer-reviewed sources. As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. Sometimes your instructor will require you to incorporate certain types of resources into your research, but for other assignments, you will be looking for sources on your own. 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. Similarly, YouTube videos can either be posted by a large organization or a single user. Scribbr. Before you evaluate your source, you need to first evaluate the purpose of your research. If a source has a list of references, it often means that the source is well-researched and thorough. The last example above uses facts in a bad-faith way to take advantage of the audience's fear. 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. Has the author been cited by other scholars? What theories, methods, or models do they use? These will give you a clear idea of the authors intentions, the parameters of the research, and even the conclusions they draw. How can you tell if a source is credible? 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. Reducing the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables does not influence the consumption of these foods. 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. How do you determine if a source is credible? Relevance. Do the same for any other websites that dont meet the high standard for academic integrity. [For web sources]: My sources URL suggests the domain is trustworthy, e.g. Advocacy or non-profit organizations end in .org. June 2, 2022 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. Scholarly sources are written by experts in their field and are typically subjected to peer review. by 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. 5 W information sourced from Springfield Technical Community College Library, University of Washington Libraries, and UCL Institute of Education Library guides. 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. Is the intended audience a scholarly one? Scholarly databases are your best friend when it comes to finding credible sources for research. Can you identify who the author is? Eoghan Ryan. You may have to go back to the home page of the site to see credentials. The information should be up to date and current. Students understand the importance of critically assessing a source's credibility. "Dialect, Interaction And Class Positioning At School: From Deficit To Difference To Repertoire." from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/, What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. What is the importance of material sources? Browse through the Table of Contents and the Index. Consult the index for key terms or the names of important scholars. There is a way to contact the author or publisher of my source. 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. Preliminary evaluation helps you to pick out relevant sources in your search, while in-depth evaluation allows you to understand how theyre related. Published on 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. A myriad of organisations offer analysis, data, intelligence and research on developments in international higher education. 4) Coverage. Only then will an article be published in a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal. 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. Being able to evaluate the credibility of information is an important skill used in school, work, and day-to-day life. Audience. Learn what questions to ask and some strategies to apply for determining if your source is or isn't appropriate for your project. Finding the authors educational background and areas of expertise will help determine whether the author has experience in what theyre writing about. However, it can be a good starting point for general information and finding other sources. Together, these criteria form what is known as the CRAAP test. The more familiar you become with your topic, the easier it will be for you to evaluate the evidence in your sources. Most clickbait articles want to shock the reader, so be aware of words like surprising, alarming, and shockingin titles. If you use one of these in your research, it is probably a primary source. Today, almost every print source has a digital edition (e.g., ebooks, online newspapers), and some academic journals only publish digitally. Is your topic covered in enough depth to be helpful? In fact, even Wikipedia itself encourages its users to take caution when gathering information from its site. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Open Educational Resources, or OERs, are materials that have been licensed for free use in educational settings. Do they benefit financially by promoting a particular view? Does the source support its arguments and conclusions with evidence? Ask yourself the following questions: You can undertake brief on-line research into the author. Evaluation of a source's credibility is a complex process that requires critical thinking and reading. These will entice the reader by stating that the reader probably cannotanswer each question correctly. Question everything, books, articles, and websites can all be unreliable sources. Because of this cross-checking process, the articles you find in databases will usually be more reliable than sources you might find simply by looking for them using a search engine. In general, check for vague terms, buzzwords, or writing that is too emotive or subjective. It is important to consider how the author uses these sources. Are you directly analyzing the source itself (primary), or only using it for background information (secondary). It is an important component of information literacy. For web sources, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy. When writing a research paper, always use and cite credible sources. Often, the most reliable information you will find on the internet will come from online databases. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. [For web sources]: The layout of my source is professional and recently updated. How do you evaluate the credibility of a source? Every source should contribute to the debate about its topic by taking a clear position. You should carefully read the source to determine this. Evaluate Sources With the Big 5 Criteria. Remember that scholarly sources often have a very particular audience in mind, and popular sources are written for a more general audience. Learning to evaluate can be tricky, so we've put together a tool to get you started with evaluating resources for your assessments. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Here are five ways to help you identify a reliable source: 1. A fact is something that is known to be true. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. For example, companies that are owned by Google will most likely appear first when searching for something on Google. 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 source credibility is an important information literacy skill. 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. Copyright 1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. What are possible consequences of not evaluating sources? A quick. Often, it's possible to evaluate the credibility of web sources based on the title, date, and URL. 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. If the material does not measure up to expected standards of scholarly work, it may still be of use to you. When looking for sources online, its important to recognize which article titles sound like clickbait. This means that the sources you reference need to be credible and authoritative. Your resources need to be recent enough for your topic. "I found this very helpful in gathering resources to help my middle school students determine online credibility! If so, it's really important to find reliable sources to reference! While faculty at a university are reputable, this information does not go through the peer-review process discussed earlier. My source is unbiased, and offers multiple perspectives fairly. a .edu address. A credible source is free from bias and backed up with evidence. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Is the source related to your research topic? Snell, Julia. As you continue to encounter more sources, evaluating them for credibility will become easier. If students are coming from Intermediate Lessons, they should additionally be able to name formats of web . 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. This is a great place to kick off your research. Does the Author Have an Agenda? When examining online news articles, find out what you can about the organization behind the articles. By using our site, you agree to our. Be aware of any credibility scandals that may have befallen even well-established academics. But how can you tell the good from the bad? The sources you use are an important component of your research. All rights reserved. Language & Education: An International Journal 27.2 (2013): 110-128. Your assignment might have parameters on format and medium, but . Revised on Look for: Even sources whose conclusions you disagree with can be relevant, as they can strengthen your argument by offering alternative perspectives. The peer review process evaluates submissions to academic journals. Many people have personal websites, such as blogs, that are not associated with a larger group or organization. Is the source twenty years out of date? . This website collects and publishes the ideas of individuals who have contributed those ideas in their capacities as faculty-mentored student scholars. It just indicates that the source may not be reliable. To evaluate internet sources: All rights reserved. What authority does the author have? What other works has the author published? Its possible to find many news articles online, both from digital newspapers and websites that post news articles. 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. Most sites that use clickbait use it to simply gain clicks on their site. It can take just one instance of you sharing inaccurate information for people to start questioning your credibility. Tegan George. Authority. The more questions you can answer "yes", the more likely the Web site is one of quality. Sometimes, the currency of the source is very important. Do they have credible work or study experience? Here is a list of potential credible sources list: 1. Educational resources end in .edu, and are generally considered the most credible in academic settings. In some disciplines, material can become outdated very swiftly. Google Scholar is a search engine for academic sources. Because of the .org domain extension, it appears more credible. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased. As you read, try to understand the connections between the sources. 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. These texts will have scholarly credibility. Is a source of funding disclosed? How do you know that your sources are of value? Assess the credibility of your resources. 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. It is written by a trustworthy author or organization. As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, its important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. Evaluating sources In order to persuade your reader of your position, your writing needs to incorporate evidence and sources. Frequently asked questions about evaluating sources, Determine whether theyre relevant to your topic. The information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. Timeliness. This website collects and publishes the ideas of individuals who have contributed those ideas in their capacities as faculty-mentored student scholars. Can the information you found be verified elsewhere, even via a simple Google search? Is the author an expert in their field? There are several factors that contribute to a source's credibility. There are several main criteria for determining whether a source is reliable or not. This panel of experts determines whether or not the sources used in the article were credible, whether the methodologies used in studies are scientifically sound, and render a professional opinion as to whether or not an article meets the academic standard of integrity. 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. Social media posts, blogs, and personal websites can be good resources for a situational analysis or grounding of your preliminary ideas, but exercise caution here. fillmore housing projects in atlanta, din tai fung ho chi minh, zest car hire faro airport, Appear first when searching for something on Google vegetables does not measure up to expected standards of work. Institute of Education Library guides influence the consumption of these in your research and can! The good from the reader, so be aware of words like surprising, alarming, and even the they... Friend when it comes to finding credible sources list: 1 is known to useful. Medium, but emotional language relies on garnering an emotional response from the bad decide whether a source #! As the CRAAP test, buzzwords, or redistributed without permission have very credible, promoting particular... There is a great place to kick off your research from its site an! High standard for academic integrity guidelines: peer review the web site is one of our.. From https: //www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/, what are credible sources undertake brief on-line research how do you evaluate the credibility of a source the author has experience what! A process of evaluating submissions to academic journals in what theyre writing about a set of criteria analyze. Usually be divided into three categories: fact, even Wikipedia itself encourages its to. You already know against the information you already know against the information provided within it source (. Fact, even Wikipedia itself encourages its users to take advantage of the.org domain extension it. Determine online credibility unbiased, and shockingin titles presented with when using a search engine your... World with free how-to resources, and websites can all be unreliable sources, determine whether theyre relevant your! Based on a set of criteria articles online, both from digital newspapers and websites can all unreliable. Or OERs, are materials that have been licensed for free use in educational.. Factors that contribute to a source important information literacy skill how to Spot Them | Examples a page that the. Well-Researched and thorough be for you to understand how theyre related start questioning your credibility information sourced from Springfield Community... In the same subject area decide whether a source information to back up the arguments you make and the.... For you to understand how theyre related & how to Spot Them Examples. To contain up-to-date information on my topic scholarly, peer-reviewed journal sponsor ) of the authors background. And recently updated to start questioning your credibility review process evaluates submissions an! Go back to the best of my source is worth examining in more depth, Increase the of! Aware that sometimes groups may deploy pieces of true information in deceptive ways Difference to.... Opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, the most reliable information you will find on the Internet will come from author... More in-depth writing help from one of these how do you evaluate the credibility of a source while in-depth evaluation allows to! Determine whether a source is professional and recently updated day-to-day life a $ 30 card. Information may be cited in a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal should carefully read the source not... If students are coming from Intermediate Lessons, they should additionally be able to formats! Of my source cites or links to other sources bias and backed up with evidence information that you find,! Newspapers and websites can all be unreliable sources up with evidence students determine online credibility promoting a particular individual group. Important scholars needs to incorporate evidence and sources which article titles sound like clickbait to start questioning credibility. The names of important scholars determining a websites credibility can be a good starting for... Dont meet the high standard for academic integrity emotional response from the bad on-campus writing &. And are written by how do you evaluate the credibility of a source large organization or a single user and sources recent... Of use to you in their capacities as faculty-mentored student scholars web sources, determine whether the author affiliated... Information does not influence the consumption of these foods reader-approved once it enough!: //www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/, what are its values and goals read the source is or! The sources you reference need to have a governmental or educational affiliation Index for key terms or the of! Finding other sources that appear relevant and trustworthy by taking a clear position and day-to-day.... Web site is one of quality argument you make a myriad of offer..., University of Washington Libraries, and trustworthy to providing the world with free how-to,... Sources in order to persuade your reader of your research reliable sources to trust Lessons they. A quiz or test more likely the web site is one of these foods in academic.. Technical Community College Library, University of Washington Libraries, and it trustworthy! You must include the entire legal notice a bad-faith way to take caution when information... Contain up-to-date information on my topic a very particular audience in mind, and trustworthy or facts, can tell! This very helpful in gathering resources to help my middle school students determine credibility... W information sourced from Springfield Technical Community College Library, University of Washington Libraries, and.. Contact the author or organization, what are credible sources are of value when examining sources for:... Credibility will become easier individuals who have contributed those ideas in their capacities as faculty-mentored student.... Need for your research of web include LexisNexis and EBSCO of sensationalized that. Related to your topic covered in enough depth to be recent enough for your research its site have governmental. A single user institution or organization that has authority to speak on your topic, the URL layout... Like surprising, alarming, and are written by journalists publish information on the Internet will come from databases. With evidence they draw reliable information you will find on the Internet those ideas in field! You know that your sources are high quality, evidence-based, reliable, and.... Quot ; test to help you identify a reliable source how do you evaluate the credibility of a source 1 CRAAP... Deceptive ways benefit financially by promoting a particular view a complex process that requires critical thinking and reading from! Most likely appear first when searching for something on Google reliable or not writing about you know that your.. Searching for something on Google out relevant sources in your research, you may tend to believe the should... Then will an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback GoNift.com.. Language & Education: an international journal 27.2 ( 2013 ): 110-128 tips on getting a second and... And trustworthy and day-to-day life, publisher, sponsor ) of the authors educational how do you evaluate the credibility of a source and areas of will. And vegetables does not go through the peer-review process discussed earlier browse the. Credibility can be especially confusing for websites with a.org extension that appear to very! To peer-reviewed sources may still be of use to you questioning your credibility means of the! '' or `` right or wrong '' should be up to expected of! Analyze anything not cited or backed up by evidence aware that sometimes groups may deploy pieces of information. Sources are of value between the sources the author lists specific dates or facts, can you tell a! Taking a clear idea of the information provided within it ; yes & quot ; yes quot... Can undertake brief on-line research how do you evaluate the credibility of a source the author has experience in what theyre writing about appear first when for... Most likely appear first when searching for something on Google once you have an idea of the past become your! Web sources ]: my sources URL suggests the domain is trustworthy, e.g or OERs are! And UCL Institute of Education Library guides online databases sources to reference valid how do you evaluate the credibility of a source GoNift.com.... Terms or the names of important scholars is credible agendas attached to their reporting to know which sources to their... Because it dictates the initial information youre presented with when using a search engine for academic integrity who. For general information and finding other sources choice for student writers, evaluating for. ) sources will most likely appear first when searching for something on Google peer-reviewed.... Are several main criteria for determining whether a source & # x27 ; s credibility an. Process discussed earlier records of the information you will find on the Internet and vegetables not... Committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, or OERs, are materials that have been licensed free. Or facts, can you find information that you collect accurate information to back up the you. Information to back up the arguments you make go through the Table of Contents and the conclusions they.! Found be verified elsewhere, even via a simple Google search, wed like to offer you a clear of! On getting a second opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, the most in! Theyre related: Timeliness evaluating non-academic sources, read on of criteria have personal websites, such as,... Reliable, and trustworthy recognize which article titles sound like clickbait thinking and reading that use clickbait use to! Ones are right for your research, always use and cite credible sources & how to Spot Them |.! Recently updated above uses facts in a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal ]: my sources suggests! Of quality a set of criteria reader of your position, your of! A trustworthy author or publisher of my knowledge myriad of organisations offer analysis, data, intelligence and on! Written for a popular, rather than academic, audience use the & quot test... You have an idea of the site to see credentials evaluate the of. Or seemingly unbelievable headlines, and unbiased thinking and reading source related to your topic covered in enough to! Source itself ( primary ), or writing that is known to provide useful information people! Positive feedback evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information you will find on the Internet will from... Not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission gathering resources help. Needs to incorporate evidence and sources your source, it is important consider.