Credible vs Non-Credible sources

GOAL!

Your goal is to select only credible and reliable sources!

References

Critically Analyzing Information Sources: Critical Appraisal and Analysis. (2015, July 13). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://guides.library.cornell.edu/criticallyanalyzing

Finding Scholarly or Peer Reviewed Articles: Why Not Just use Google & Wikipedia. (2015). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://libguides.uhv.edu/peerreviewed/google_wikipedia

Harvard Guide to Using Sources. A Publication of the Harvard College Writing Program. (2015). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k70847&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup107786

How to evaluate information and use credible sources? (2015). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://libguides.mjc.edu/c.php?g=255675&p=1706344

Source credibility. Writing Centre Learning Guide. (2014). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/learning_guides/learningGuide_sourceCredibility.pdf

Western University (Producer). (2012, January 13). Evaluating Sources [Video file]. Retrieved November 1, 2015, from

Purpose

Tips

What is the purpose of the source?

• Informative or educational?
• Entertainment?
• Commercial?
• Personal blogs?

• Websites and magazines with advertisements do not look credible
• Avoid using personal webpages / blogs as reference source

Accuracy

Tips

Is information presented accurate?

• If it is a journal article, is it peer-reviewed?
• Does it provide links to related resources, publications?
• Is information is consistent? Does the page have overall integrity and reliability as a source?
• Does information provide different perspectives?
• Can information be verified using other sources?
• Does it have comprehensive bibliography?
• Does the information have correct grammar and spelling?
• Is the content is clear and easy to navigate?

• The most accurate information come from peer-reviewed scholarly journals, conference papers, non-fiction books
• If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly
• Use library databases and library collections to find the reliable sources
• Avoid using biased magazines and websites
• Avoid using works of fiction
• Websites with grammar and spelling mistakes, flashy advertisements are less credible
• Be careful using sources that provide one-sided information

(How to evaluate information and use credible sources, 2015)

Authority

Tips

• Avoid using Wikipedia or blogs as reference. A Wiki is a website where any user can modify the information. You can use them to get the general idea or different perspective
• Never use websites where an author cannot be determined, unless the site is associated with a reputable institution such as a respected university, a credible media outlet, government program or department, or well-known non-governmental organizations.

• Who is the author of the source?
• Individual, company or organization?
• What is the author's background? Credentials?
• Are they "expert" in the area?
• Affiliation with reputable organization?
• is there way to contact author?
• Have your lecturers mentioned about the authors?
• Are authors cited?
• Is there comprehensive reference list in author's sources?
• What are the basic values and goals of institution or organization?

Relevance

Tips

• Is the information is useful for your topic?
• Is topic explored in-depth?
• Does the source provide detailed information?
• Are there links to related sources?
• What type of audience is the author addressing?
• Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience?

• Read the table on contents of the book or read the article abstract to see whether it is relevant for your topic
• Keep in mind that not all sources are appropriate for your topic even if they are published in the top-ranking scholarly journals

(Harvard Guide to Using Sources,2015)

Currency

Tips

Avoid using the following sources:

• no information about author or sponsor
• no contact details (address, e -mail, phone, names)
• with bias: information in favor of or against one person, thing, belief or a group
• the author is trying to influence your decision

Is the information is current and up-to-date?

Some topic areas require more current information

Credible sources have the date of :

• publication
• last update
• revision
• copyright

(Critically Analyzing Information Sources, 2015)

Credible vs Non-Credible sources

What makes source credible?

Source evaluation criteria

CRAAP test

Currency

Relevance

Authority

Accuracy

Purpose

(Western University, 2012)

Why not just "google" it?

Tips

• .gov, .ac and .edu websites rank more credible than .com, .org and .net
• note that .edu websites can be created by students
• Wikipedia is not reliable source of information

(Source credibility, 2014)

Pathway to differentiate between credible and non-credible sources

by Renata Tolegenova

• Anyone with access to the Internet can create a website
• Google's top results are not always credible
• Website's domain doesn't make them credible
• The most popular websites are not always credible

(Finding Scholarly or Peer Reviewed Articles, 2015)

It is essential to differentiate between credible and non-credible sources in order to conduct quality research. Each item you find must be evaluated to determine its quality and credibility in order to best support your research

CREDIBILITY IS IMPORTANT!