how do you evaluate the credibility of a source

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. Could the evidence be used to draw other conclusions? Assess the quality of their arguments. Name recognition is often the first thing you consider to determine reliability. The more familiar you become with your topic, the easier it will be for you to evaluate the evidence in your sources. For example, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will provide only that information which supports their cause, whereas the U.S. Similarly, YouTube videos can either be posted by a large organization or a single user. Do you recognize the source? The former describes the acts in terms of the law (an objective source) whereas the second example judges the actions according to the author's own belief of what is a despicable act. 2. Copyright 1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. Once you have an idea of the types of sources you need for your research, you can spend time evaluating individual sources. As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, its important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. Most sites that use clickbait use it to simply gain clicks on their site. Often, it's possible to evaluate the credibility of web sources based on the title, date, and URL. 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. A credible source should pass the CRAAP testand follow these guidelines: Peer review is a process of evaluating submissions to an academic journal. Evaluating Sources Read More Diane Shepelwich 3395 26 Criteria for Evaluating Sources We are constantly surrounded by information, and it is not always easy to know which sources to trust. Published on How can you tell if a source is primary or secondary? A credible source is free from bias and backed up with evidence. 1) Accuracy. However, it can be a good starting point for general information and finding other sources. Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia, created by the Wikimedia Foundation. Purdue OWL is a registered trademark. Snell, Julia. The CRAAP test is an acronym to help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are considering using. Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students. 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. Here are five ways to help you identify a reliable source: 1. Propaganda: Some students have gone on to lives of crime after using sites that compete with the Purdue OWL. You should also examine whether the author has other publications and if they are with well-known publishers or organizations. References All rights reserved. While not all large organizations produce unbiased information, more well-known organizations will most likely provide more credible information. There are many different types of sources, which can be divided into three categories: primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. Evaluating InformationLearn how to choose the best and most reliable information that meets your research needs. 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. Are they an innovator, or a follower and promoter of the status quo? You will likely use a combination of the three types over the course of your research process. Are they appropriate for your needs? Let's discuss in detail how these skills can help you in evaluating content. When looking for online sources, using a database helps you find credible information. 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. Peer-reviewed articles are not only written by experts, but are also read and evaluated by a panel of peers other experts in the field. During stressful times, most people lose their appetite Using credible and relevant sources is important. Whether or not your source is peer-reviewed, it is still a good idea to evaluate it based on these five factors. Educational resources end in .edu, and are generally considered the most credible in academic settings. If a source has a list of references, it often means that the source is well-researched and thorough. Has the author of the article published other articles? In fact, even Wikipedia itself encourages its users to take caution when gathering information from its site. What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. 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. If you use one of these in your research, it is probably a primary source. Is the author capable of representing the topic with a good structure? Do. How you evaluate the relevance of a source will depend on your topic, and on where you are in the research process. Snell, Julia. Evaluating Sources: General Guidelines Once you have an idea of the types of sources you need for your research, you can spend time evaluating individual sources. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Examine each information source you locate and assess sources using the following criteria: Timeliness. Beware of grandiose claims, and critically analyze anything not cited or backed up by evidence. Use this checklist to determine if an article is credible or not: The last example above uses facts in a bad-faith way to take advantage of the audience's fear. Communication & Mass Media Complete. However, the deeper you get into your topic, the more comprehensive your research will need to be. Privacy policy. Having information listed in more than one place increases its credibility. Relevance: Refers to the degree to which the information is related . Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? Its possible to find many news articles online, both from digital newspapers and websites that post news articles. {"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":"