Accuracy

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:

Look at a sources's accuracy to determine if the information provided is correct. Accuracy is important when choosing sources because truthful and factual information is needed to conduct useful research and to impede the spread of false information.

WHAT TO DO:

  1. Review the examples and visual aid that explain the process.

  2. Answer the self-check questions at the end.

  3. Go to the next page of this module, Authority.

Questions to Determine Accuracy

  1. Did the author cite their facts?

  • If the author cites the sources they get their information from, it is a good sign that their information is accurate.

  1. Is the information presented in a factual way?

  • If the source uses emotion to get its point across, it might be a sign that the author is trying to manipulate the reader.

  1. Can you verify the information with other sources?

  • If you find other sources that echo or back up the author's claims, they can help verify that a source is accurate.

  1. Is the source regularly updated or corrected?

  • Trustworthy sources regularly issue corrections and updates when they receive new information. A well-maintained source will be updated regularly and checked for grammatical errors.

  • For serial publications, such as podcasts, the content of each episode needs to be checked for accuracy. Just because episodes are published on a regular basis does not automatically make the content accurate.

Trustworthy Tale or Fabricated Fiction?

Trustworthy Tales 1) The author sticks to the facts and cites all of their sources. Check the author's sources to make sure that the information provided is true. 2) The information is based on facts and does not solely attempt to appeal to the reader's emotions. 3) The source is free of spelling and grammatical errors. Fabricated Fiction 1) Don't assume that all of the information in an article has been fact checked. Do it yourself. Check the author's sources! 2) The information is based on opinions and works to appeal to the reader's emotions in order to push specific opinions. 3) The source is full of spelling and grammatical errors. This is a sign that the source has not been carefully reviewed.

Helpful Scenarios

You have to give a speech in your communication class on the dangers of ocean pollution and need to find accurate sources to back up your arguments. Which of the sources below would help you provide your class with accurate information?

A book on ocean pollution written by a marine biologist who backs up his claims with his own research and the research of others in his field.

Accurate. This source would provide accurate information because it is written by someone who has done their own research and backs it up with the research of others.

A blog post by a travel writer who post photos of ocean pollution. The post aims to shame others for leaving trash on the beach, but her claims are not backed by up with sources, and her writing is full of misspellings and grammatical errors.

Not Accurate. While the author means well, she is not an expert in the field and give no evidence to back up her claims. She relies on emotions to get the point across to her readers.

A peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Marine Biology & Oceanography. The article is peer-reviewed, backed up with research, and provides citations to sources backing up the author's claims.

Accurate. The article has been peer-reviewed and published in a trustworthy journal.