How do I evaluate the credibility of sources and determine which ones to use for a specific task? In this section you will find a series of tools that will help you check if a source is right for your needs.
Tools for evaluating sources:
Important Definitions
To Consider:
When exploring a source:
Beware of unreliability and inaccuracy
Ask yourselves the following questions to determine if the writing is largely untrue:
Does this information seem unbelievable?
Does it make sense to you?
Does what you read conflict with something you already know to be true?
Does the writing seem like hyperbole where something is grossly exaggerated?
Check for:
Accuracy (is the information correct?)
Authority (who wrote this?)
Appropriateness (is the information relevant?)
Currency (is the information up to date?)
Scope (how deep does the information go?)
Security (are they asking for personal info?)