RAVEN

RAVEN is an acronym to help you remember the different aspects of source credibility a researcher must consider when encountering a source. Each element of RAVEN overlaps with other elements of this course such as bias and perspective. As you learn to use RAVEN, the questions you ask yourself about a source should start to become automatic, helping you to become a more skilled researcher.

Reputation:

Does the source/author's history or status suggest reliability or unreliability?
What is the source/who is the author? What do you know about them? What do others think about them?

Ability to See:

Is this first-hand knowledge (primary source) or is the source passing something along second-hand (secondary source)?
Is the source/author in a position to know what they're talking about? Can their observations be trusted?

Vested Interest:

What is at stake for the source/author itself?
What does the source/author have to gain or lose from sharing this information?

Expertise:

What specialized knowledge does the source/author have and does the topic/situation demand it?
Are they experts? Are they observers? Are they somewhere in between?

Neutrality:

Is the source/author predisposed to support a particular point-of-view for reasons other than vested interest?
In what way is the source/author biased?

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