Question.1612 - Evaluating Sources
Answer Below:
In 2b, rate your journal and periodical sources (whether you are looking at hard copy or on-line) as scholarly, substantive or popular. The Table “Distinguishing between Scholarly and Non-scholarly Periodicals” will work for evaluating either print or on-line journals, newspapers, and periodicals. Beware of bias in any specific article. Determine if the source is authoritative, credible, reliable, current and unbiased. (If not current, then information can be rated “valid, regardless of age,” -- i.e., a 1999 web-based article on the American Civil War is not “current,” but can be “valid regardless of age.”) All sources should be authoritative, credible, reliable, current and unbiased. If bias is found, state if bias may or may not affect the credibility and reliability of the information you will use and how you will compensate for possible bias. For websites, generally speaking, .gov and .mil sites are acceptable sources in academic papers. Most .edu websites will be acceptable, but analyze under the criteria in 2 above. If the website is a .com, .org or .biz website, you must further evaluate for authority, reliability and credibility. Never use a .com, .org or .biz site without evaluating across these criteria. Be especially careful about blogs – generally speaking, don’t use them. Many newspaper and magazines also publish to websites; evaluate those just as you would a journal or periodical. Authoritative Who are the author(s)? Are they recognized experts in their field? – check the <About> column or google the author’s name? What is the level of education of the author? Experience? Knowledge of the subject? Is the information at a level appropriate to an upper-level academic paper? Credible How does the information compare to other, similar information? Always look for more than one source – verify that all points of view are represented Reliable Is it timely? Does it come from a trusted source?More Articles From Research
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