Evaluating Sources
- Check the plausibility of statistical evidence.
- Evaluate the use of expert support.
- Are the experts legitimate? Is their expertise relevant to the field?
- Does the reading avoid vague phrases like “experts agree” or “the research shows”?
- Check the evidence – is the source reliable, does the evidence support the claim?
- Be aware that reporters, like all people, may be influenced by their own perspectives and thus provide a slanted viewpoint.
- Be aware of your own biases and perspectives.
Questions to consider:
- Who collected and published the statistics?
Look at who sponsored the article. If an article refers to a survey that supports its product but was sponsored by product manufacturers, then the article should probably not be trusted because of potential conflicts of interest.
- What populations are responding to the survey?
If the survey is voluntary, the data may be biased because people who reply to these surveys are more likely to have very strong opinions. Watch out for small sample sizes as well as very precise percentages and numbers.
- Is the information current?
There is often a time lag between data collection and data reporting because analysis takes time. Be wary of outdated information.
- Why was the information collected and who are the intended users? Was it collected as part of the organization's mission? Was it collected for advocacy? Was it collected for business purposes, such as to sell a product?
Sometimes companies will produce biased data. For example, a cigarette company might produce biased data about the number of deaths caused by smoking. Be critical! Remember, anyone can publish on the web—just because data is available on the Internet does not automatically ensure it is reliable.
For a quick and easy way to evaluate your source, use these criteria:
- Currency: When was it published? Is the information still current, or outdated?
- Relevance: Is the information related to your topic? Who is the audience?
- Authority: Who wrote the information? What are their credentials? Are they authorities on the topic? Who published the information?
- Accuracy: Do the authors offer evidence for their arguments? Does the information seem to agree with what others have written on the topic?
- Purpose: What is the purpose of the piece - informing, persuading, selling, etc? Is the information presented objectively or is there a bias? Are the authors presenting facts or opinions?
Most sources fall into two categories: scholarly and popular. Scholarly sources are written by highly-qualified researchers and have a thorough publication process called peer-review. Scholarly articles include an extensive list of references at the end of the text. Scholarly sources often have a specific audience in mind usually researchers or students in the field. Examples of scholarly sources include books and academic journals written by scholars and experts.
Popular sources, on the other hand, are written by and intended for a general audience. Popular sources are not peer-reviewed, and they do not usually include a reference list. Examples of popular sources include newspapers, magazines and websites.
If you’re unsure whether the source you’re reading is scholarly or popular, ask yourself these questions:
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the author an expert in the field?
- Is the text peer-reviewed?
- Is there a reference list or Works Cited page?
A paper on the minimum wage will include both scholarly and popular sources. You will find books and journal articles written by experts in economics, government and other disciplines, but you will also need current newspaper articles that cover the topic from a local perspective.
Avoid Information on Social Media
Articles and statistics on social media may seem reliable but most are clickbait to encourage engagement. Always analyze the source of the information. Instead of relying on articles from social media or commercial websites, find articles on the library homepage or use government websites and information from educational institutions.
Misinformation and disinformation are commonly found on social media. Both misinformation and disinformation involve the dissemination of nonfactual information.
- Misinformation = spreading false information without intending to cause harm
- Disinformation = deliberately sharing false information to cause harm or confusion
"The tech behind our social feeds is not optimized for providing access to high-quality information. The goal is engagement, allowing outrageous stories and opinions to find a broad audience quickly." (U.S. PIRG)