EVALUATING
SOURCES
PLAY YOUR CARRDSS!
CARRDSS
CREDIBILITY
• What makes this person
an authority on this topic?
• What can you find out
about them? Google
author names.
•
•
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•
•
Education
Experience
Publications
Links to Others
Links from Others
EDUCATION?
• Does this person have an advanced
degree?
• Is the degree in something related to the
topic of the website?
EXPERIENCE?
• What has the author done in this or related
fields?
• What else has s/he done that might
prepare him/her to be an authority on this
subject?
PUBLICATIONS?
• Has the author published books or articles
in print?
• Have the author’s articles been cited,
quoted, or included in other reliable
publications or websites?
LINKS TO OTHERS?
• Are there links to other reliable sources to
show where the author got his/her
information?
• How do you know those links are reliable?
• Does the author link only to other pages in
his or her own website?
WHO LINKS HERE?
• What other websites include links to this
website for their viewers?
– Google this: link:URL (no spaces) for a list
• Can you consider those websites reliable?
ACCURACY
• Are the facts and
statistics correct?
• Can you verify them
elsewhere?
• Are their speeling or
grammer misteaks?
LOOK AGAIN!
• Facts and statistics should be current and
accurate.
• Spelling or grammar mistakes show a lack
of attention to detail and accuracy…what
else may be wrong?
• Always double-check facts and statistics
with other authoritative sources.
RELIABILITY
Is it really telling you everything?
CHECK FOR BIAS
• Biased websites
present one side of
an argument as if it is
the whole truth.
• May be useful for
persuasive papers but
not as only source for
research.
BUT THE FACTS ARE RIGHT…
• Biased does not mean false. Facts
presented may be true.
• Bias does mean slanted. Some facts may
not be presented at all. Statistics may be
manipulated.
FIND THE BALANCE
• Enough sources to
learn all points of view
• Sources that
accurately present
both sides at once
without taking sides.
RELEVANCE
• Does it answer the
question you are
asking?
Q: Was George Washington a good General?
Sources:
George Washington the Farmer
George and Martha: a Love Story
• Is it general
information rather
than specific?
George Washington and the Revolution.
How George Washington started the French
and Indian War.
The Presidency of George Washington
All these sources are about GW. Should you
use them all?
DATES
• Check the publication
year, date posted, or date
updated in books or
websites.
• Use the most up-to-date
information you can find
• If there is no date,
proceed with caution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Date_%28game%29
ONLINE “DATING”
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•
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Home page
About us
Copyright (often at the bottom)
On individual pages/articles
Or not there at all
SCOPE & PURPOSE
http://jaxteeth.wordpress.com/
WHY? WHO?
• Why was the website created?
• Who is the website’s target audience?
TOO SHALLOW?
• Source may be for a
younger audience. It
will not have as much
information as you
need.
TOO DEEP?
• Source may be for
specialists. It may be
too hard for you to
understand and
assume too much
prior knowledge.
JUUUUST RIGHT!
• Scope and purpose match the scope and
purpose of your assignment.
• Written at a level you can understand
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/illustrations/go
ldilocks/tarrantgoldy2.html
SOURCES
• Where did your
source get his/her
information?
• Links?
• Bibliography?
• In-text citations?
CHECK THE SOURCES!
• Click on links – are they live? Authoritative?
• Google authors’ names – who are they?
• How to read a web address:
http://novemberlearning.com/educationalresources-for-educators/information-literacyresources/4-how-to-read-a-web-address/
• THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES! VERIFY
BEFORE YOU USE INFORMATION!
SOME (GENERALLY)
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES
• Museums
• Look for
– Peer review/vetting
• Universities (some)
– .gov file extensions
• Government
– Lists of sources
websites
– Dates/updates
• Journals
• Databases of
vetted sources