Evaluating Your Sources
Is it Credible?
The definition of a credible source can change depending on the discipline, but in general, a credible source is one that is unbiased and is backed up with evidence. When writing a research paper, always use and cite credible sources. Use this checklist to determine if an article is credible or not:
- Is the source in-depth (more than a page or two), with an abstract, a reference list, and documented research or data?
- Who is the audience (researchers, professors, students, general population, professionals in a specific field)?
- What is the purpose of the source (provide information or report original research or experiments, to entertain or persuade the general public, or provide news or information specific to a trade or industry)?
- Who are the authors? Are they respected and well-known in the field? Are they easily identifiable? Have they written about other similar topics? What are their credentials?
- Is the source reputable? Is it published on a reputable, non-biased web site, or in a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal, and not from a newspaper, blog, or wiki?
- Is the source current for your topic?
- Is there supporting documentation (graphs, charts, illustrations or other supporting documentation)?
Web Domains in Scholarly Research
Where does your source come from?
- government or military (.gov or .mil) - Government or Military websites end in .gov or .mil, and in general are among the most reliable sources on the web. Beware of political sites used to sway public opinion.
- university (.edu) - University web sites end in .edu, and are usually reliable. Use these sites with caution, checking for credibility and authority.
- company website (.com) - Company web sites generally end in .com. These sites are great for information about a particular company. However be aware that company websites are used to promote, so be sure the information is non-biased.
- special interest (.org) - While many professional organizations end in .org, there are also many .orgs that are biased and promote a specific agenda.
