how do you evaluate the credibility of a source

You can evaluate the reliability and scholarship of information you find both online and in print by using these guidelines: Authorship If the author is not identified be wary. 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. In general, check for vague terms, buzzwords, or writing that is too emotive or subjective. I have checked that it is supported by evidence and/or verifiable elsewhere. Is the author an expert in their field? These highly personal and subjective sources are seldom reliable enough to stand on their own in your final research product. It is an important component of information literacy. Determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth, Increase the quality of the information you consume. Different news outlets may have different agendas attached to their reporting. 2 Mar. However, they are written to entertain a lay audience, not to inform a scholarly audience. If the source appears to represent an opinion, does the author offer legitimate reasons for adopting that stance? If youre reading a fact-based source, be sure that it doesnt oversimplify the topic. Petersen, Alexander Michael, et al. Evaluating a source's credibility Evaluating the credibility of a source is an important way of sifting out misinformation and determining whether you should use it in your research. The handout below can be downloaded to help walk through the process. There are several factors that contribute to a source's credibility. Having information listed in more than one place increases its credibility. There are many different types of sources, which can be divided into three categories: primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. For these reasons, they are typically considered credible sources. Is the author affiliated with a university or another institution? Educational resources end in .edu, and are generally considered the most credible in academic settings. Its important to understand the types of sources and how you should use them in your field of research. Where does the author work? Examine each information source you locate and assess sources using the following criteria: Timeliness. 3) Currency. CRAAP test One of the best ways to evaluate source credibility is the CRAAP test. First, what are the qualifications of the author? 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. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Others may become caught up in a heavily unbalanced viewpoint and can take some timemonths perhapsto regain a better-balanced consensus (see Researching with Wikipedia). Is a source of funding disclosed? This stands for: How you evaluate a source using these criteria will depend on your subject and focus. Revised on Together, these criteria form what is known as the CRAAP test. To assess an arguments strengths and weaknesses, ask: Situating a source in relation to other sources (lateral reading) can help you determine whether the authors arguments and conclusions are reliable and how you will respond to them in your own writing. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. An opinion gives the thoughts of a particular individual or group. The more radical the ideas presented in the source (in comparison to other sources on the same subject) the more carefully you should scrutinize it. Authority. 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. The domain extension can help you understand what type of website youre dealing with. Examine the source's and author's credentials and affiliations We are constantly surrounded by information, and it is not always easy to know which sources to trust. This is especially important when youre surveying a large number of sources (e.g., in a literature review or systematic review). Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. This could also give you insight into the author and publishers motivations. When you verify the information in one source with information you find in another source, this is called cross-referencing or cross-checking. 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. You can use the " CRAAP " test to help you evaluate the information sources you find. CRAAP test Currency The timeliness of the information. Mailing Address: 3501 University Blvd. 4) Coverage. Using the library websites database search engine, use the advanced search to restrict your search results to peer-reviewed sources. Websites with some sort of commercial aspect end in .com (or .co.uk, or another country-specific domain). My source avoids vague or grandiose claims, and writing that is too emotive or subjective. Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? If you cannot find that information corroborated in scholarly sources, thats a red flag that the information is not trustworthy, and you should not include it in your argument. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid368290-v4-728px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"