by UTEP Connect
Research papers are a large part of many college courses, and the quality of your paper will only be as good as your research. The internet makes research on almost any topic more convenient and accessible than in the past, but it also presents some challenges. With all the information that’s online, how do you know if you’re using a reliable source?
The following tips will help you tell a good source from one that’s biased, outdated, or inaccurate:
1. Check the domain name
Look at the three letters at the end of the site’s domain name, such as “edu” (educational), “gov” (government), “org” (nonprofit), and “com” (commercial). Generally, .edu and .gov websites are credible, but beware of sites that use these suffixes in an attempt to mislead. Nonprofit websites may also contain reliable information, but take some time to consider the organization’s purpose and agenda to determine if it could be biased. Commercial websites, such as those of reputable news organizations, can also be good sources, but do some investigation to look for signs of reliability.
Also, you can check online to see who owns a domain name and whether the owner’s IP address is in the U.S. or abroad.
2. Take a closer look at the source
Does the article or study have any authors listed? If so, do they cite or link to authoritative sources, or are they writing their own opinions without backing these up with facts? Are their credentials listed?
Additionally, check the date of publication. In some cases, it may not matter if the source is older or hasn’t been recently updated, but in fields of study where information can rapidly change, the data may be obsolete.
3. Search for additional information to back up what you’ve found
As you find information, try to verify its authenticity and legitimacy using other reliable sites. If you find another credible site that contradicts your original source, further research may be required.
4. Use certain sources only to jump-start additional research
Wikipedia
Wikipedia offers a large volume of information, but because its entries are created in a collaborative effort involving many different users, its reliability can vary widely. In some cases, users deliberately place incorrect information on the site; in others, well-meaning users unintentionally introduce inaccuracies. For these reasons, you can use Wikipedia as a jumping-off point to spark more research, but not as a source on its own.
Individual blogs, online forums, chat rooms, etc.
Much like Wikipedia, sources such as individuals’ blogs, online forums and chat rooms can be used to fuel further research, but shouldn’t be relied upon as sources of dependable information.
If you have a question about the authenticity of a source, you can always reach out to your professor; the University Writing Center at The University of Texas at El Paso; or the UTEP Library, which offers assistance via email (libraryref@utep.edu), SMS (915-249-3383) and phone (915-747-5643 or 915-747-5638).
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FAQs
It is important to be able to identify which sources are credible. This ability requires an understanding of depth, objectivity, currency, authority, and purpose. Whether or not your source is peer-reviewed, it is still a good idea to evaluate it based on these five factors.
What are 4 distinguishing characteristics of a credible source? ›
It is important to be able to identify which sources are credible. This ability requires an understanding of depth, objectivity, currency, authority, and purpose. Whether or not your source is peer-reviewed, it is still a good idea to evaluate it based on these five factors.
What are 4 ways in which you can identify if a source is credible? ›
The information should be up to date and current. The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching. The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased. For a web source, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy.
How do you know if a source is good or bad? ›
That criteria are as follows:
- Authority: Who is the author? What are their credentials? ...
- Accuracy: Compare the author's information to that which you already know is reliable. ...
- Coverage: Is the information relevant to your topic and does it meet your needs? ...
- Currency: Is your topic constantly evolving?
Reliable Sources
- Authors work at a respected news organization—or are recognized as subject-area experts.
- The basic facts are consistent across different news outlets.
- Website URLs end with .edu, .gov, .info, or a reputable .com.
- Sources are cited and quoted.
- It's clear whether something is a fact or an opinion.
As you examine each source, you need to evaluate the quality of the information provided within it. Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias.
What are the 4 dimensions of a credible source? ›
Prior research suggests several dimensions of perceived credibility, such as dynamism, objectivity, and competence (Whitehead 1968); authority and character (McCroskey 1966); attractiveness, reliability, expertise, and sympathy (DeSarbo and Harshman 1985).
What are 3 ways you can tell if a source website is reliable? ›
Check if the website is created by a trustworthy organization or author. You can identify the author from the URL or from the copyright information. Check if the author is related to the topic or field that he or she is talking about. Check if the content is bias-free and does not promote any product or idea.
How do you know when a source is not credible? ›
Does the article or study have any authors listed? If so, do they cite or link to authoritative sources, or are they writing their own opinions without backing these up with facts? Are their credentials listed? Additionally, check the date of publication.
What makes a source unreliable? ›
Sources are unreliable when (i) the author doesn't have authority to write on the topic, (ii) the source contains plagiarized or uncited information, or (iii) the source contains inaccurate or false information. Unreliable sources can be books, journal articles, newspaper or magazine articles, websites, blogs, etc.
Look for:
- An author who is an expert or a well-respected publisher (such as the NY Times or Wall Street Journal).
- Citations for sources used.
- Up-to-date information for your topic.
- Unbiased analysis of the topic (i.e. author examines more than one perspective on the issue).
Tweets / Facebook post (least reliable: written by one person or a bot and immediately publishable) Blog entry (usually longer than a social media post; you can generally find out more about the writer's credentials) Info from a dot-com website (remember, dot coms are often selling something)
How can you tell good research from bad or biased research? ›
13 Ways to Tell Good Research from Bad
- Is this research peer reviewed? ...
- Is it published in a top-tier academic journal? ...
- Do other scholars trust this work? ...
- Who funded the research? ...
- What are the authors' credentials? ...
- How old is the study? ...
- Do the authors have a conflict of interest? ...
- What's the sample size?
The first key points historians want to check about a source is whether the source is based on accurate knowledge and understanding. To do this, they might check whether the author was there at the time, whether the author was involved in the event, whether the author understood the overall context.
What makes a source reliable in history? ›
A reliable source is one that provides a thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, discussion, etc. based on strong evidence. Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles or books -written by researchers for students and researchers. Original research, extensive bibliography.
What makes a source credible? ›
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. When writing a research paper, always use and cite credible sources.
What are the 5 characteristics of a credible and reliable source? ›
The criteria are:
- Currency: Timeliness of the information.
- Relevance: Importance of the information for your needs.
- Authority: Source of the information.
- Accuracy: Truthfulness and correctness of the information.
- Purpose: Reason the information exists.
Q. I need to evaluate a source. Do you have a list of criteria that I can use to determine credibility?
- authority (is the author an expert?)
- accuracy (is the information correct?)
- objectivity (is the information unbiased?)
- currency (is the information up to date?)
Credibility is a characteristic of a person who is perceived by others to be a trusted advisor, believable, and confident by exhibiting a high level of expertise in a certain subject. The most important aspect to credibility is that it is an attributed variable.
What are the four dimensions of source credibility? ›
Character, composure, extroversion and sociability are the dimensions of credibility that help establish referent power.
