Chapter 8: Finding and Evaluating Sources ENG 113: Composition I

Finding Sources 0 Research means to collect information (in both print and electronic form) from magazines, newspapers, books, journals, and other sources—to supplement your own ideas 0 Research can be conducted: 0 In the library 0 On the internet 0 The most important factor in research is finding high quality sources that support your argument

Finding Information in the Library 0 The library contains both print and electronic resources that you cannot find anywhere else 0 Information found in the library is reliable 0 High quality scholarly sources 0 Evaluated by professional librarians 0 Begin your research at the library!

Levitt Library

Library Sources 0 The online catalog lists all the books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and other materials housed in the library 0 Search using keywords related to your topic 0 The library subscribes to electronic databases which are collections of digital information that you access through a keyword search 0 Reference works are sources of accurate and reliable information and can be available in print or electronically 0 General encyclopedias – provide general information on a wide variety of topics 0 General encyclopedias can provide an overview of the topic, but usually do not provide enough depth for college-level research 0 Specialized reference works and special encyclopedias offer detailed information on specific topics

Finding Information on the Web 0 The web gives you access to a vast amount of information 0 Information found on the web has limitations 0 Anyone can publish on the web so you cannot be sure if the information found there is trustworthy, timely, or authoritative 0 Approach all material found on the web with caution 0 Even reputable search engines such as “Google Scholar” can return questionable results 0 Pay-per-view 0 Not current 0 Appear scholarly but are not authoritative 0 Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Search Engines 0 General-Purpose Search Engines –retrieve information on a great number of topics 0 Cast the widest possible net and bring in the widest variety of information 0 Disadvantage is that you can retrieve a lot of irrelevant information 0 Examples: Bing, Google, Yahoo!

Search Engines 0 Specialized Search Engines – focus on specific subject areas or on a specific type of content 0 Focuses your web search on a specific subject area allows you to locate information on your topic more easily 0 Advantage is that you will not need to wade through pages of irrelevant information 0 You can find a list of specialized search engines on the Search Engine List (thesearchenginelist.com)

Search Engines 0 Metasearch Engines take the results of several search engines and present them in a simple, no nonsense format 0 Individual search engines search the web differently and return different results. If you use just one, you might miss important information 0 Metasearch engines relieve this problem by returning results from more than one search engine 0 Examples: Dogpile, Kartoo, Mamma, Metacrawler, Surfwax, and Vivisimo

Evaluating Sources 0 Whenever you locate a source—print or electronic—you should always take the time to evaluate it 0 When you evaluate a source you assess: 0 The objectivity of the author 0 The credibility of the source 0 The relevance to your argument 0 Library sources have been screened by a professional librarian so you know that it is reliable, but not if it is objective, credible, or relevant

Evaluating Sources 0 Material that you access on the Internet presents particular problems 0 Remember anyone can publish on the internet on any topic 0 Some material on the web is reliable 0 Example: scholarly journal articles published online and in print 0 A lot of information is unreliable and totally unsuitable for your research 0 Personal websites and blogs 0 Therefore, you must evaluate your sources to make sure that the information you are accessing is appropriate 0 If you rely on an untrustworthy source to support your argument, you undercut your own credibility

Evaluating Print Sources 0 Use the following criteria: 0 Accuracy 0 Credibility 0 Objectivity 0 Currency 0 Comprehensiveness 0 Authority

Evaluating A Print Source’s Accuracy 0 A print source is accurate when it is factual and free of errors 0 Compare the information in one source to other sources 0 If the source contains factual errors or spelling and grammar mistakes, it likely contains other errors as well 0 Check citations for information discussed in the source 0 Allows you to verify the quality of the information and the range of sources used 0 Lets you see if the author failed to consult important books or articles in the field 0 If an important source is missing, the author’s familiarity with the topic is questionable 0 Verify the legitimacy of some of the sources the author cites by seeing what you can find out about them on the Web 0 Do they exist? 0 Are they widely accepted or discredited and dismissed?

Evaluating a Print Source’s Credibility 0 A print source is credible when it is believable 0 Determine where the book or article was published 0 Book 0 Being published by a University Press means the book was peer reviewed or read by experts in the field to confirm the accuracy of the information 0 Being published by a commercial press means you will need to consider the author’s reputation, publication date, and other information to determine the quality 0 Article 0 A scholarly journal is aimed at experts in a particular field 0 Typically documented, peer reviewed, and written by experts 0 Sometimes difficult to understand 0 Popular magazines are periodicals aimed at general readers 0 High-level popular magazines may be written by experts (The Atlantic, The Economist) 0 Lower-level popular magazines are easy to understand, but are not suitable as a source for research (Sports Illustrated, People) 0 Determine how well-respected the source is by 0 Reading reviews written by critics 0 Book Review Digest, New York Times Book Review 0 Discovering how often a source is cited by other scholars in the field refer to it 0 Citation indexes indicate how often books an articles are mentioned by other sources in a year

Evaluating a Print Source’s Objectivity 0 A print source is objective when it is not unduly influenced by personal opinions or feelings 0 Recognize that bias exists 0 All sources are biased or prejudiced in favor or against something 0 All sources reflect the opinions of the author, no matter how hard they try to be impartial 0 Determine whether a writer’s assumptions are justified by the facts or are the result of emotion or preconceived ideas 0 Check word choices for slanted language 0 Review points to see if argument is one-sided or balanced 0 Ask if you are being offered a legitimate point of view or simply being fed propaganda

Evaluating a Print Source’s Currency 0 A print source is current when it is up-to-date 0 Scientific subjects = currency is especially important 0 Older sources may contain out-dated information 0 You want to use the most up-to-date source 0 Other subjects (literary criticism, history) 0 The age of the source may not be as important as in the sciences 0 There are sometimes foundational texts that are always important and should be included and built upon

Evaluating a Print Source’s Comprehensiveness 0 A print source is comprehensive when it covers a subject in sufficient depth 0 Does the source deal specifically with your subject? 0 If it treats the subject only briefly, it probably won’t be useful 0 Does it treat your subject in enough detail? 0 Does the source include background information that you need to understand the discussion? 0 Does the source mention other important sources on the subject? 0 Are facts and interpretations supported by other sources you have read, or are their major points of disagreement? 0 Does the author include documentation?

Evaluating a Print Source’s Authority 0 A print source has authority when a writer has the expertise to write about a subject 0 Always try to determine if the author is a recognized authority or simply a person who has decided to write about a particular topic 0 What other books or articles has the author written? 0 Has the author other books or articles on the subject? 0 Does the author have an academic affiliation? 0 Does he or she work at a college or university? 0 Do other scholars respect the author? 0 Remember – the credibility of your argument may be enhanced or undermined by the “experts” you cite

Evaluating Internet Sources 0 Information found on Internet can be untrustworthy 0 Anything goes – exaggerations, misinformation, errors, even complete fabrications 0 Unlike a library where sources are evaluated by an expert, the librarian, there is not authority evaluating websites for accuracy and trustworthiness 0 The task of evaluating the accuracy and trustworthiness of information found on the web belongs to you!!

Evaluating Internet Sources 0 Print sources often include important publication information: author’s name, publisher’s name, date of publication 0 Internet sources may lack this information 0 Therefore, it is not always easy to judge the material you find online

Evaluating Internet Sources 0 Begin by viewing information that you find online skeptically 0 Assume that information is questionable until you establish that it is not 0 Then apply the same criteria that you used to evaluate print sources 0 Accuracy 0 Credibility 0 Objectivity 0 Currency 0 Comprehensiveness 0 Authority

Evaluating an Internet Source’s Accuracy 0 Information on a website is accurate when it is factual and free of errors 0 Ask the following questions: 0 Does the site contain errors of fact? 0 Factual errors should immediately disqualify a site 0 Does the site contain a list of references or any other type of documentation? 0 Reliable sources indicate where their information comes from 0 If a site provides no documentation, you should not trust it 0 Does the site provide links to other sites? 0 Are the sites created by respected authorities or sponsored by trustworthy institutions? 0 Can you verify information? 0 Check the information in a print source or a good reference website

Evaluating an Internet Source’s Credibility 0 Information on a web site is credible when it is believable 0 Do not automatically believe what you find on the Web 0 Ask these questions: 0 Does the site list authors, directors, or editors? 0 Is the site refereed? 0 Does a panel of experts or an advisory board decide what appears on the site? 0 Does the site contain errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation? 0 Does an organization sponsor the site? 0 Is the organization reputable?

Evaluating an Internet Source’s Objectivity 0 Information on a Web site is objective when it limits the amount of bias that it displays 0 Some sites make no secret of bias (political, social cause) 0 Present them clearly in their policies or mission statement 0 Some sites try to hide their bias 0 Example: refer only to sites that support their views and not mentioning sites that disagree 0 Bias does not automatically disqualify a source, but you should be aware of bias and whether or not you need to find the other side of the issue elsewhere

Evaluating an Internet Source’s Objectivity Cont. 0 As the following questions: 0 Does advertising appear on the site? 0 Does a commercial entity sponsor the site? 0 Does a political organization or special-interest group sponsor the site? 0 Does the site link to strongly biased sites?

Evaluating an Internet Source’s Objectivity Cont. 0 A web site’s URL can give you information that can help you assess the site’s objectivity 0 Identify the site’s purpose 0 Knowing who sponsors a site can help you determine if a site is trying to sell you something or just give you information 0 Look at the domain name to identify sponsorship 0 The last part of the site’s URL can tell you whether the site is: 0 Commercial -.com and.net 0 Educational -.edu 0 Nonprofit -.org 0 Governmental -.gov,.mil, and so on 0 See if the site has a tilde (~) in it 0 A tilde (~) indicates that information was published by an individual and is unaffiliated with the sponsoring organization 0 Do not automatically trust.edu,.org,.gov, sites – sometimes individuals publish information without the tilde (~)

Avoiding Confirmation Bias 0 Confirmation bias is a tendency that people have to accept information that support their beliefs and ignore information that does not 0 When you write an argumentative essay, do not accept information just because it supports your thesis 0 Realize that: 0 All people have a tendency toward confirmation bias 0 You have an obligation to consider all sides of an issue, not just the side the reinforces your beliefs

Evaluating an Internet Source’s Currency 0 Information on a Web site is current when it is up-to-date 0 Be aware of the “shelf life” of information in the discipline you are researching and choose information accordingly 0 Poetry and fiction – timeless 0 Science – can become quickly outdated 0 Ask the following questions: 0 Does the Web site include the date when it was last updated? 0 Are all links on the site live? 0 A “live” link works to send you to another site when clicked on 0 Is the information on the Web site up-to-date? 0 While the Web site as a whole may have been updated recently, the individual pages may not have been 0 Check the dates on articles to verify when they were published

Evaluating an Internet Source’s Comprehensiveness 0 Information on a Web site is comprehensive when it covers a subject in depth 0 A site that presents itself as comprehensive should include (or link to) the most important sources of information that you need to understand a subject 0 A site that leaves out important sources of information or ignores opposing points of view cannot be called comprehensive 0 Ask the following questions: 0 Does the site provide in-depth coverage? 0 Does the site provide information that is not available elsewhere? 0 It should make a contribution to your knowledge and do more than simply repackage information from other sources 0 Who is the audience for the site?

Evaluating an Internet Source’s Authority 0 Information on a Web site has authority when you can establish the legitimacy of both the author and the site 0 Ask the following questions: 0 Is the author an expert in the professional or academic field? What credentials does the author have? Does he or she have the expertise to write on the topic? 0 Check the “About the Author” section 0 What do the links show? Do they lead to reputable sites? Do they suggest a hidden agenda or bias? 0 Is the site a serious publication? Does it include information that allows you to judge its legitimacy? Does the site include a mailing address and phone number? Can you determine if the site is the domain of an individual or a group of people? Is there a board of advisors? 0 Does the site have a sponsor? Is the sponsor reputable?

Evaluating Sources 0 Remember, your credibility depends on the credibility of the experts you use to support your argument 0 Your paper is only as strong as the strength of your sources 0 You should evaluate sources to make sure that they are high quality! 0 Accurate 0 Credible 0 Objective 0 Current 0 Comprehensive 0 Authoritative 0 Relevant!