9.5: Evaluating Source Credibility

Not all information is good information.

You may have noticed this truth with the recent “fake news” trends. Just because it’s published somewhere, whether online or in a print article, doesn’t make it fact.

This is important to remember when writing your research paper. Developing a quality and academically excellent paper requires resources that both support your thesis and maintain accuracy.

Dana Lynn Driscoll and Allen Brizee (2013) from Purdue Owl Writing Lab note the importance of evaluating your sources:

Evaluating sources is an important skill. It’s been called an art as well as work—much of which is detective work. You have to decide where to look, what clues to search for, and what to accept. Learning how to evaluate effectively is a skill you need both for your course papers and for your life.

Here, we explore the two vital steps of finding and evaluating resources for writing papers.

1. FINDING SOURCES

Years ago, research for a report or paper was most often completed in a physical library building. You would have stacks of books that you looked up by call number from the librarian’s card catalogs. Historical information was available through archives the librarian would find. You’d look up articles from an actual newspaper or journal, smudged ink marks and all.

Now, with an increasingly online research system, things have changed. Looking up books in a library has become easier with databases, online library catalogs and subject guides. You can now do your research almost any time from anywhere.

However, whether you're researching online or in-person, your school’s library is your best first step. Our librarian can help you find sources quickly and efficiently. They’re still the best ally in your hunt for research. By searching through your school’s services, you can ensure that the sources you find are journal articles, books and other quality resources, unlike a questionable website or magazine article. Browse through subject guides and catalogs to more easily locate materials related to your research topic.

You can also find quality sources by browsing through databases offered through our school’s library services. These reliable databases will help point you in the direction of finding quality sources you can use to enhance your research paper. Access the library's databases page here

Databases most often work by keywords. It may be helpful to keep track of what words you use to search for in case you need to revisit them. If you’re looking for a particular author or title, you can also search by those fields in most databases.

2. EVALUATING SOURCES WITH THE CRAAP TEST

So you’ve found that passage in a book that has the exact information and quotes that you’re looking for to support your main point. But before you jump ahead and stick that valuable passage in your paper, it’s important to first evaluate the source.

How can you tell if a source is worth including or not? A useful tool is the CRAAP test acronym. Watch the video below for some useful infomation on how to tell if a source is research-paper-worthy...or not!

While evaluating peer-reviewed journal articles doesn’t require as much in-depth critique as a website found through a search engine, it’s still important to ensure the integrity of the source you wish to include. This process validates your information and also builds your credibility as a writer. It will be useful to evaluate all sources you're considering by the criteria below:

Currency: the timeliness of the information

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has the information been revised or updated?
• Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
• Are the links functional?

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
• Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
• Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?

Authority: the source of the information

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
• What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
• Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
  • examples:
    • .com (commercial), .edu (educational), .gov (U.S. government)
    • .org (nonprofit organization), or
    • .net (network)

Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content

• Where does the information come from?
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
• Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
• Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

• What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
• Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

If you deem the source valid and relatable to your paper, include it in your working bibliography

PRIMARY VS. SECONDARY SOURCES

When finding and evaluating sources, it’s important to note the distinction between primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are those that give a first-hand account of the topic. They often come in the form of interviews, historical records or statistical data. Secondary sources offer analysis and further discussion based on the primary source. These are often peer-reviewed journal articles and books.

RESEARCH TIPS FOR SCHOOL AND BEYOND

Finding and evaluating your sources prior to including them in your research paper takes time. It would be easier to quickly look up an article in your search engine and pull out a great—but perhaps misleading—quote or statistic.

But ensuring the quality of your sources, whether a research paper for school, a summary for your boss, or an annual report for your non-profit organization, is vital to your credibility as an author. Take the time and do the research right.

FIND QUALITY RESOURCES AT THE LIBRARY

As a student here, you have access to a wide variety of helpful resources and tools through the library. Whether on-campus or online, you can quickly and easily find books, journal articles and other resources to ace that next assignment. View library resources here