how do you evaluate the credibility of a source

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. While almost anyone can produce a podcast, and topics range from discussing tv shows or books like The Bachelorand Harry Potter, other podcasts give in-depth information about science, history, anthropology, and a wide variety of other topics. What are possible consequences of not evaluating sources? American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Comparative Literature Association, Learn more about our academic editing services, First-hand evidence giving you direct access to your research topic, Second-hand information that analyzes, describes, or, Sources that identify, index, or consolidate primary and secondary sources. Which of the following sources appear credible and which appear questionable: Stem Cell Basics. The originating source (author, publisher, sponsor) of the information. Retrieved February 27, 2023, [For academic journals]: My source is peer-reviewed and published in a reputable and established journal. Lateral reading is the act of evaluating the credibility of a source by comparing it with other sources. Answer (1 of 5): Sources are the foundations not only of journalism but humanity itself. Are you directly analyzing the source itself (primary), or only using it for background information (secondary). One of the best ways to evaluate source credibility is the CRAAP test. Most sites that use clickbait use it to simply gain clicks on their site. As a rule of thumb, if a source is even passively trying to convince you to purchase something, it may not be credible. Web. Privacy policy. This position and the conclusions the author comes to should be supported by evidence from direct observation or from other sources. Was the source published on-line? When an article or website is authored anonymously it has little credibility. Do they confirm or challenge established knowledge? Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. It is written by a trustworthy author or organization. Key points Sources come in many forms. When was the website last updated? One way to do this is to look at paratextual material, or the parts of a work other than the text itself. A credible source is free from bias and backed up with evidence. How does the author situate their argument in the field? When examining online news articles, find out what you can about the organization behind the articles. You may have to go back to the home page of the site to see credentials. Facts are objective, while opinions and propaganda are subjective. Does the information come from an author or organization that has authority to speak on your topic? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid368290-v4-728px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"