Evaluating for Credible, Authoritative, Reliable Sources

Accuracy

"A" is Also for Accuracy

Accuracy refers to the trustworthiness of a source.

Questions to Ask About the Accuracy of a Source

Ask yourself these questions when thinking about the accuracy of a source and its information:

1. Is the information repeated anywhere else in your other sources?
2. Does the source include references that clearly indicate where the author found his or her data?

How Do I Do This?

Your Tasks:

• Review the source's references
• Double-check the information in other sources. Can the information be corroborated in any other source?

Remember the Context!

Sometimes, the accuracy of a source will be very important.

For instance, if you are writing a research paper about the effects of bullying on a child's self-esteem, it is important to use sources with accurate information in them.

Double-checking sources

You will want to review the source's references and double-check the information in other sources. Similarly, if you are surfing the internet for medical advice, you will want to double-check other sources to see if the information you find is accurate.

Image source: "Glasses Phone Screen Technology Mobile Internet Telephone" by DariuszSankowski is licensed under CC0 (public domain)

Common Pitfalls

This source is the first one listed in the database/Google/catalog. Therefore, it must be the most accurate source for my needs!

Consider this:

Depending on which one of these tools you used to search for information, the results might be listed according to date, to the popularity of a source, because the source sponsors paid a fee, or any number of other factors. Just because something is first doesn't mean that it's the best result for your needs.

Additional Sources

These open access materials go more in-depth into related issues, strategies, and importance of evaluating information and resources.