CredibilityCredibility

“Can We Trust The Source?”“Can We Trust The Source?”

What is Credibility?What is Credibility?

» Credibility is how trustworthy an author or source is.

» You can ask yourself 3 questions to help determine if a source is credible or not.

» Credibility is how trustworthy an author or source is.

» You can ask yourself 3 questions to help determine if a source is credible or not.

CredibilityCredibility» 1. Who is the author? » Credible sources are written by authors respected their fields of study. » Author went to college/school for the topic they wrote about and can be considered an

expert.» An author has a high title (CEO, President, Principal, etc.) or a

great deal of experience in his field and thus can be considered an expert.

» An author is associated with (spends time with) certain schools, businesses, or people enough to write about them, and thus can be considered an expert.

» 1. Who is the author? » Credible sources are written by authors respected their fields of study. » Author went to college/school for the topic they wrote about and can be considered an

expert.» An author has a high title (CEO, President, Principal, etc.) or a

great deal of experience in his field and thus can be considered an expert.

» An author is associated with (spends time with) certain schools, businesses, or people enough to write about them, and thus can be considered an expert.

Credible or Not?Credible or Not?

Amanda is excited about her source for her research project. She is doing a project on the American bald eagle and found a pamphlet all about bald eagles. There are a lot of colorful pictures, but the author’s name is not listed on the pamphlet. There are a few websites to go to for further information, so she thinks the author might be listed there.

Is this credible?

Amanda is excited about her source for her research project. She is doing a project on the American bald eagle and found a pamphlet all about bald eagles. There are a lot of colorful pictures, but the author’s name is not listed on the pamphlet. There are a few websites to go to for further information, so she thinks the author might be listed there.

Is this credible?

NOT CREDIBLE!

There is no author listed and it is not from a well known

publication that we know has been reviewed.

NOT CREDIBLE!

There is no author listed and it is not from a well known

publication that we know has been reviewed.

Credible or Not?Credible or Not?

Brian is excited about doing a project on a Diabetes. He found an article online written by a endocrinologist (doctor) who also teaches about Diabetes at Stanford Medical School.

Is this source credible?

Brian is excited about doing a project on a Diabetes. He found an article online written by a endocrinologist (doctor) who also teaches about Diabetes at Stanford Medical School.

Is this source credible?

CREDIBLE!

The author can be considered an expert because he studies and

teaches about Diabetes (endocrinology) at a well known,

respected institution.

CREDIBLE!

The author can be considered an expert because he studies and

teaches about Diabetes (endocrinology) at a well known,

respected institution.

CREDIBLE!

The author can be considered an expert because he studies and

teaches about Diabetes (endocrinology) at a well known,

respected institution.

CREDIBLE!

The author can be considered an expert because he studies and

teaches about Diabetes (endocrinology) at a well known,

respected institution.

CredibilityCredibility» 2. When was the article written? » The choice to look at recent sources depends on

your topic. » Sources on past events or places, such as Ancient

Rome, may be very old and still contain accurate information.

» Sources on newer ideas, or areas that are experiencing rapid changes, such as Climate Change, need to be much more current.

» 2. When was the article written? » The choice to look at recent sources depends on

your topic. » Sources on past events or places, such as Ancient

Rome, may be very old and still contain accurate information.

» Sources on newer ideas, or areas that are experiencing rapid changes, such as Climate Change, need to be much more current.

Credible or Not?Credible or Not?Jose is working on a history project about The Civil War. He looks online and history.com and the New York Times website recommended he read the book The History of the Civil War. The book was written in 1951.

Is the book credible?

Jose is working on a history project about The Civil War. He looks online and history.com and the New York Times website recommended he read the book The History of the Civil War. The book was written in 1951.

Is the book credible?

CREDIBLE!

Even though the book is old, it was written about an even older event so

it can be considered credible. Furthermore, it was recommended by history.com and the New York Times online, both of which are well-known

websites.

CREDIBLE!

Even though the book is old, it was written about an even older event so

it can be considered credible. Furthermore, it was recommended by history.com and the New York Times online, both of which are well-known

websites.

CredibilityCredibility» 3. What is the author's purpose? » When deciding which sources to use, you should think about

the purpose or point of view of the author. Why is this author writing this article?

» Is the author presenting a neutral, objective view of a topic? Or is the author trying to prove one specific view of a topic? Is

» A source written from a particular point of view may be credible; however, you need to be careful that your sources don't limit your coverage of a topic to one side of a debate.

» 3. What is the author's purpose? » When deciding which sources to use, you should think about

the purpose or point of view of the author. Why is this author writing this article?

» Is the author presenting a neutral, objective view of a topic? Or is the author trying to prove one specific view of a topic? Is

» A source written from a particular point of view may be credible; however, you need to be careful that your sources don't limit your coverage of a topic to one side of a debate.

Credible or Not?Credible or Not?» Chris is reading an article on the internet

written by a doctor who works for a diet company called Weight No More. The article explains that Weight No More is the best and most effective diet in the United States.

» Is this source credible?

» Chris is reading an article on the internet written by a doctor who works for a diet company called Weight No More. The article explains that Weight No More is the best and most effective diet in the United States.

» Is this source credible?

NOT CREDIBLE!

Even though the author is a doctor, we have to examine his purpose for

writing the article. Since he works for the company, it benefits him if people join and pay for his diet company, so

his writing may be biased.

NOT CREDIBLE!

Even though the author is a doctor, we have to examine his purpose for

writing the article. Since he works for the company, it benefits him if people join and pay for his diet company, so

his writing may be biased.

» Never use Web sites where an author cannot be determined, unless the site is associated with a well known and respected institution such as a university, a credible media outlet, government program or department, or well-known non-governmental organizations.

» Beware of using sites like Wikipedia, which are written by anonymous users. Because anyone can add or change content, the information does not meet standards for academic research.

» Never use Web sites where an author cannot be determined, unless the site is associated with a well known and respected institution such as a university, a credible media outlet, government program or department, or well-known non-governmental organizations.

» Beware of using sites like Wikipedia, which are written by anonymous users. Because anyone can add or change content, the information does not meet standards for academic research.

Credible or Not?Credible or Not?Erin is working on a science project about shark attacks. Erin found an encyclopedia article about sharks, and it includes some information about shark attack victims and survivors. The encyclopedia is published by World Book, which is a well-known business in the research industry.

Is this credible?

Erin is working on a science project about shark attacks. Erin found an encyclopedia article about sharks, and it includes some information about shark attack victims and survivors. The encyclopedia is published by World Book, which is a well-known business in the research industry.

Is this credible?

CREDIBLE!

The article was published on World Book, which is a well known research

organization.

CREDIBLE!

The article was published on World Book, which is a well known research

organization.