The CRAAP test is a catchy acronym that will help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are thinking about using. Your resources need to be recent enough for your topic. (2022, December 07). The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased. Scribbr. Who are the intended readers and what is the publication's purpose? Is the language objective or emotional? Beware of grandiose claims, and critically analyze anything not cited or backed up by evidence. How can you tell if a source is primary or secondary? Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. How you evaluate the relevance of a source will depend on your topic, and on where you are in the research process. Ryan, E. Evaluating the authority, usefulness, and reliability of resources is a crucial step in conducting a review of the literature that effectively covers pertinent research and, thereby, demonstrates to the reader that you know what you're talking about. If you use one of these in your research, it is probably a primary source. Possessing these skills will give you the ability to objectively and successfully critique online materials. 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. But how can you tell the good from the bad? CRAAP test Currency The timeliness of the information. In general, check for vague terms, buzzwords, or writing that is too emotive or subjective. 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. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. If the opinion feels one-sided, does the author acknowledge opposing viewpoints? Privacy policy. The handout below can be downloaded to help walk through the process. For preliminary research and getting to know a new topic, you could use a combination of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. A panel of reviewers in the same subject area decide whether a submission should be accepted for publication based on a set of criteria. Evaluating Primary Sources It is important to examine primary sources with a critical eye since they represent unfiltered records of the past. Often, the most reliable information you will find on the internet will come from online databases. June 2, 2022 The materials collected here do not express the views of, or positions held by, Purdue University. What is the credibility of secondary sources? For tips on getting a second opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, read on! Understanding SEO is important because it dictates the initial information youre presented with when using a search engine for your research. Do they confirm or challenge established knowledge? While a scientific study showed that Wikipedia is as accurate as professionally generated encyclopedias. 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. An opinion gives the thoughts of a particular individual or group. This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. 208 Hamilton Hall, Mail Code 28051130 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027, Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram, 510 Mudd Hall, Mail Code 4714500 W. 120th St.New York, NY 10027, 2023 Columbia University | Privacy | Terms of Use | Accessibility | Notice of Non-Discrimination |University Home Page, Remember, your use of sources is a means of supporting the argument you make. 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. 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. My source is recent enough to contain up-to-date information on my topic. 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". Who are the intended readers and what is the publication's purpose? Search Engine Optimization Search engine optimization (often abbreviated SEO) is a strategy used to increase unpaid views on a website from search engines. "I found this very helpful in gathering resources to help my middle school students determine online credibility! Is the journal indexed in academic databases? 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. Fish and Wildlife Services might provide the same family of information without agenda bias. When evaluating a personal website, find out what you can about the author and their affiliations. Make sure the source is written by a trustworthy author and/or institution. A credible source is free from bias and backed up with evidence. Your assignment might have parameters on format and medium, but . Any resourceprint, human, or electronicused to support your research topic must be evaluated for its credibility and reliability. [For web sources]: The layout of my source is professional and recently updated. This Common Core aligned teaching packet is appropriate . Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. For each criterion, there are several questions to be asked. Remember, your use of sources is a means of supporting the argument you make. 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. 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. Examine source in full text (PDF or original print is preferable) for errors, organization, opinions, etc. If youre reading an opinion-based source, ask yourself whether theres enough evidence to back up the opinions. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Podcasts are becoming a much more popular digital medium today. Communication & Mass Media Complete. 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. Let's discuss in detail how these skills can help you in evaluating content. 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. How do you know that your sources are of value? Are there any oversights or weaknesses in the research? 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. Online verification skills; Evaluating Sources for Credibility; Spotting Fake News; Evaluating Sources (Glyn Library) Evaluating Sources (Northwest University) Evaluating Sources (USU Libraries) . 3) Currency. Fact: The Purdue OWL was launched in 1994. Images should be evaluated like any other source, such as journal . Determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth, Increase the quality of the information you consume. A high number of Cited By results can often be a measurement of credibility. Rather than taking these figures at face value, you decide to determine the accuracy of the sources claims by cross-checking them with official statistics such as census reports and figures compiled by the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Immigration Statistics. They often do not have single authors or publication dates, and their motivation can be more difficult to ascertain. 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. A database is a large collection of data, usually about one specific topic or idea. 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. It benefits students and researchers who need to evaluate sources for academic purposes. 5 W information sourced from Springfield Technical Community College Library, University of Washington Libraries, and UCL Institute of Education Library guides. To evaluate the credibility of a source, first look at its mode of publication. Snell, Julia. Almost all peer-reviewed journals require a subscription fee. For further guidance, Kaneisha Gaston, Teaching and Undergraduate Services Librarian in Butler Library, can help you evaluate online sources forcredibility. For this reason, academic journals are often considered among the most credible sources you can use in a research project provided that the journal itself is trustworthy and well-regarded. Published on Learn what questions to ask and some strategies to apply for determining if your source is or isn't appropriate for your project. Has the author been cited by other scholars? Web. Currency: Timeliness of the information and whether it is up-to-date and relevant to the topic at hand. My source avoids vague or grandiose claims, and writing that is too emotive or subjective. However, despite the many credible digital sources available today, there are still many unreliable sources available on the internet. Online scholarly databases that can be trusted and are known to provide useful information for students include LexisNexis and EBSCO. As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, its important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. This could also give you insight into the author and publishers motivations. This position and the conclusions the author comes to should be supported by evidence from direct observation or from other sources. What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. Petersen, Alexander Michael, et al. Evaluating Sources Read More Diane Shepelwich 3395 26 Criteria for Evaluating Sources 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. After you identify the person or organization, you can find out more about them and determine their credibility. Academic dishonesty can be intentional or unintentional, ranging from something as simple as claiming to have read something you didnt to copying your neighbors answers on an exam. Students are able to identify how a credible source could be used for a particular need. 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. Tegan George. 2 . If a bibliographic citation seems promising, its a good idea to spend a bit more time with the source before you determine its credibility. However, the .edu domain extension is reserved only for educational institutions, and the .gov domain extension is only used by governmental institutions. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. Last modified on Friday, August 12, 2008 political)? Do you recognize the source? Always seek your second opinion ahead of the deadline for your project. 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. 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. Examine each information source you locate and assess sources using the following criteria: Timeliness. from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/evaluating-sources/. You may have found good information, but your provider can tell you whether it's good for you. How can I tell which sources are relevant to my research? Timeliness. To effectively evaluate online materials, you must be able to do proper speed reading and skimming of content, as well as citing references. This test is used to evaluate sources of information and determine their credibility. If you don't find your topic discussed, try searching for some synonyms in the Index. My source is unbiased, and offers multiple perspectives fairly. 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. Language & Education: An International Journal 27.2 (2013): 110-128. It can also involve the selective reporting of true information in order to deceive an audience. letters, interviews). For a web source, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy. These sections usually provide information about who the author is and what sort of . Another form of clickbait is a page that challenges the viewer to a quiz or test. Watch this video to learn how to choose the most reliab. Name recognition is often the first thing you consider to determine reliability. Using credible and relevant sources is important. The sources you use are an important component of your research. For example, there are on-line journals that utilize peer-review thus providing greater credibility to the publication. Are there any specific texts or scholars that have greatly influenced the field? Open Educational Resources, or OERs, are materials that have been licensed for free use in educational settings. As a general rule, all .gov websites are credible because they have the weight of governmental institutions behind them. Websites that end in .com and .org are sometimes credible, but sometimes not. This is especially important when youre surveying a large number of sources (e.g., in a literature review or systematic review). Likewise, if you are searching for information about what restaurant to go to tonight, it's important to use current information. Privacy policy. Citation databases will also tell you the number of times this source has been cited by other academics, giving you further insight into its credibility. Is the source related to your research topic? When looking for sources online, its important to recognize which article titles sound like clickbait. [For academic journals]: My source is peer-reviewed and published in a reputable and established journal. They are not always reliable and may be written from a biased or uninformed perspective, but they can still be cited in some contexts. The more familiar you become with your topic, the easier it will be for you to evaluate the evidence in your sources. Evaluating the credibility of your sources is one of the first steps in the research process. Does the Author Have an Agenda? Do they benefit financially by promoting a particular view? 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)? "Dialect, Interaction And Class Positioning At School: From Deficit To Difference To Repertoire." Using the library websites database search engine, use the advanced search to restrict your search results to peer-reviewed sources. When evaluating the credibility of a website, look first at the URL. Can it be interpreted differently? Most sites that use clickbait use it to simply gain clicks on their site. Audience. Use credible research sources to strengthen your arguments. If at all possible, look for that same information from a peer-reviewed source, rather than a professors personal .edu source. Finding the authors educational background and areas of expertise will help determine whether the author has experience in what theyre writing about. by When evaluating social media sites, its important to know more about a user beyond their username. 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. How timely is the source? Coverage (relevance): Consider whether the source is relevant to your research and whether it covers the topic adequately for your . As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/, What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. It's important to evaluate the sources you're considering using, in order to: Ensure that they're credible. In some disciplines, material can become outdated very swiftly. Web. "Reputation And Impact In Academic Careers." If you have doubts about an on-line source, you can discuss it with your instructor or TA and you can elect not to use it. Evaluating Your Sources. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Like most sources, you should try to find out information about the author and cross-check the information in the podcast to see if you can find it elsewhere. The peer review process evaluates submissions to academic journals. Useful approaches include the CRAAP test and lateral reading. If the material does not measure up to expected standards of scholarly work, it may still be of use to you. Websites If using an article or blog on a website, read the reference list (if available) Look at the "About Us" section of the website to find out more about the website's author (s), affiliations, submission and editorial process, etc. This could be a sign of bias. Use preliminary evaluation to determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth. Was the source published on-line? These sites may include lecture materials and interpretation of sources. If you are researching for an academic paper, then you need to have very credible,. 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 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. Yes to scholarly databases. Citation Styles & ToolsQuick MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides for bibliographies; tools for storing and organizing sources. 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. Let us discuss each criterion in detail. [For web sources]: My sources URL suggests the domain is trustworthy, e.g. This article has been viewed 849,783 times. Check for contact information and the credentials of the author. How does the website look and feel? Language & Education: An International Journal 27.2 (2013): 110-128. . How do you evaluate the credibility of a source? For example, if you are researching a scientific topic, you will want to be sure you have the most up-to-date information. The CRAAP test is an acronym to help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are considering using. However, you might not want to quote a tweet by someone with an anonymous name and a Twitter handle such as @iluvscience321. There are several factors that contribute to a source's credibility. For example, if you are researching cutting-edge scientific technology, a source from 10 years ago will not be sufficiently current. Browse through the Table of Contents and the Index. Websites with some sort of commercial aspect end in .com (or .co.uk, or another country-specific domain). Similarly, Wikipedia is not considered a reliable source due to the fact that it can be edited by anyone at any time. 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. However, if you are examining an historical event, you may want to find primary documents from the time of the event, thus requiring older sources. East, Adelphi, MD 20783. If youre just starting your research, you might look for sources that include more general information. For example, some websites are known for being more left-wing or right-wing. The purpose of my source is to educate or inform, not to sell a product or push a particular opinion. For a source to be considered credible it must meet five main obligations: Currency, Relevance . 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