Bristol LLC Online Help

Evaluating Information

When you look at a source, which could be a website or webpage, or even an article in a newspaper, how do you know if it is credible?

This process is not always straightforward. If you are unsure about the credibility of a source, try these steps:

The definition of a credible source can change depending on the discipline, but in general, for academic writing, a credible source is one that is unbiased and is backed up with evidence. 

You want to ask yourself several questions when you come across a source:

• 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 website, 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)?

   

Great places to find credible sources:

• Google- limiting searches to .gov and .edu

• Google Scholar

• Government websites

• Universities

Library databases

Be careful of websites and use lateral reading (see S.I.F.T. infographic pdf)

• government or military (.gov or .mil) - Government or military websites end in .gov or .mil, and in general are reliable sources on the web. However, government-related websites may contain content that reflects a certain political viewpoint or goal. Always read your sources critically: try to determine if a source is accurate and objective or only presents one slanted viewpoint.
• university (.edu) - University websites end in .edu, and are usually reliable. Use these sites with caution, checking for credibility and authority.
• company website (.com) - Company websites 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.