August 26, 2021 To evaluate a source, ask yourself a series of questions that address Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (aka CRAAP questions!). For example, companies that are owned by Google will most likely appear first when searching for something on Google. Similarly, Wikipedia is not considered a reliable source due to the fact that it can be edited by anyone at any time. For tips on getting a second opinion and evaluating non-academic sources, read on! 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. Audience. Has the author been cited by other scholars? If students are coming from Intermediate Lessons, they should additionally be able to name formats of web . This is not necessarily bad, but it will depend on who published it, why it was published, and how you intend to use the material. As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. If youre just starting your research, you might look for sources that include more general information. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. It should be evident who created the content. Thus, when examining sources for possible propaganda, be aware that sometimes groups may deploy pieces of true information in deceptive ways. Does the Author Have an Agenda? As you examine each source, it is important to evaluate each source to determine the quality of the information provided within it. To evaluate a source's critical reception: Check in the library's book and film review databases t o get a sense of how a source was received in the popular and scholarly press. The credibility of an author is very important in determining the quality of sources you have located and are thinking of using for your research project. Was the source created by someone directly involved in the events youre studying (primary), or by another researcher (secondary)? However, some scholarly sources may be too dense for your particular research needs, so you may need to turn to sources with a more general audience in mind. what a sources motive is. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/aid368290-v4-728px-Evaluate-the-Credibility-of-a-Source-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"