EVALUATING SOURCES Primary vs. Secondary Reliability Research EVALUATING SOURCES Primary vs. Secondary Reliability “Research” is simply getting information! Today I am going to discuss sources you use for your research—whether they are “primary” or “secondary” sources and how to determine their “reliability.”

Where you get information Definition Source— Where you get information Source = where you get information! (Origin / Resource) 2: a person who supplies information [syn: informant] 3: a publication that is referred to; "he spent hours looking for the source of that quotation" [syn: reference] 4: a document from which information is obtained; "the reporter had two sources for the story" The higher, more explicit, the authorial voice, the more engaging….internal conversation….deep reading rather than skimming / scanning.

Primary Source Secondary Source Is the source from the original time or event that you are researching? Primary Source Secondary Source ?

A document or item from the time being studied. Is the source from the original time or event that you are researching? YES Primary Sources A document or item from the time being studied. A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. In the case of PAST EVENTS, primary source from the PAST, if applicable, written in the past. Authorial voice—author was THERE firsthand! Lived it! “Primary” def. = 1) first in order of time or development, 2) first in rank or importance (Websters Dictionary)

Is the source from the original time or event that you are researching Is the source from the original time or event that you are researching? YES Primary Sources Interviews Photographs Newspaper Article Speeches Letters Journals Artifacts A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event. The higher the authorial voice, the more engaging….internal conversation….deep reading rather than skimming / scanning. In the case of PAST EVENTS, primary source from the PAST, if applicable, written in the past. Authorial voice—author was THERE firsthand! Lived it! Interview—can be newspaper or magazine article ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable): Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records  CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art  RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings Examples of primary sources include: Diary of Anne Frank - Experiences of a Jewish family during WWII  The Constitution of Canada - Canadian History  A journal article reporting NEW research or findings  Weavings and pottery - Native American history  Artifacts: family Bible, wills, deeds, court records, … Interviews / Oral Histories Ask students for examples that apply to “face mug” research? * Photos of “face mugs” dating back to the 1930s (Prohibition), * Diaries Ask for examples applicable to Civil War research? * Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, * weapons in a museum, * newspaper article written during the Civil War Have students give examples that apply to Civil War, face jugs.

Is the source from the original time or event that you are researching Is the source from the original time or event that you are researching? NO Secondary Source Cites primary source Example—book about the Civil War with a quote from the Gettysburg Address If about PAST historical event, secondary source is one written by historian after the event took place. AUTHOR finds primary sources and uses them to tell about an event. The author did not experience the event himself. Author is once REMOVED from the actual event. Cites / REFERS TO / References primary source(s) A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. They are created by documenting or analyzing someone else’s experience to provide a perspective or description of a time or an event. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Some types of secondary sources include: PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias  Examples of secondary sources include: A journal/magazine article which interprets or reviews previous findings  A history textbook  A book about the effects of WWI  Website Tertiary Sources – refers / cites secondary sources. Example—your 30-page Civil War report for Mr. Bailey!

Is the source from the original time or event that you are researching? Primary Source Speeches, letters, journals, interviews, photographs, artifacts Secondary Source Book, newspaper or magazine article that refers to a primary source The higher the authorial voice, the more engaging….internal conversation….deep reading rather than skimming / scanning.

Reliability Definition Is this a reliable source to use to get information? Is the information in this magazine credible (believable), or incredible? How do we find out? Now that you have found sources, are they reliable? Reliable Definition= suitable, dependable, trustworthy. Firstly, whether it is a primary source or a secondary source plays a part in how we view the source and its information….

Reliability Questions to Ask Author / Creator Who is this person? What are her credentials? Is she qualified to write about this? Do you trust him? What are his biases? Reliability--Is source “reliable”? Author (for both primary and secondary sources) Who is the author (or publisher / creator)? What are her credentials? Is she an expert on the topic? Is she qualified to write about this? What perspective is she coming from? What are her biases? Do you trust her, or does she have an agenda? Bias Rule (for Primary Sources) The historians' second rule is the bias rule. It says that every source is biased in some way. Documents tell us only what the creator of the document thought happened, or perhaps only what the creator wants us to think happened. As a result, historians follow these bias rule guidelines when they review evidence from the past: Every piece of evidence and every source must be read or viewed skeptically and critically. No piece of evidence should be taken at face value. The creator's point of view must be considered. Each piece of evidence and source must be cross-checked and compared with related sources and pieces of evidence. The following questions may help you judge the quality of primary sources: Who created the source and why? Was it created through a spur-of-the-moment act, a routine transaction, or a thoughtful, deliberate process? Did the recorder have firsthand knowledge of the event? Or, did the recorder report what others saw and heard? Was the recorder a neutral party, or did the creator have opinions or interests that might have influenced what was recorded? Did the recorder produce the source for personal use, for one or more individuals, or for a large audience? Was the source meant to be public or private? Did the recorder wish to inform or persuade others? (Check the words in the source. The words may tell you whether the recorder was trying to be objective or persuasive.) Did the recorder have reasons to be honest or dishonest? Was the information recorded during the event, immediately after the event, or after some lapse of time? How large a lapse of time? When reviewing published documents, remember that just because something was published does not make it truthful, accurate, or reliable. Every document has a creator, and every creator has a point of view, blind spots, and biases. Also remember that even biased and opinionated sources can tell us important things about the past.

Reliability Questions to Ask The Writing / Information Is it accurate? Does it avoid stereotypes? Does the author distinguish between theory & fact Balanced, presenting both sides Reliability--Is source “reliable”? Accurate (according to other sources). Does it refer to documented sources? Is it consistent with other sources’ information about this topic? Confirm the information with another source! Authentic, avoid stereotypes (biography - not mythic, legendary, but real person with flaws. Believable.) Distinction between theory & fact - didactic/preachy? Propaganda? An agenda? If the subject is controversial, does author present a balanced view of the topic? Does he have an agenda?

Reliability Questions to Ask “Time & Place Rule” (Primary) How close in time & place to the event? Currency (Secondary Sources) How old is this source? Has anything happened since it was written that would affect its reliability? Reliability--Is source “reliable”? From The Library of Congress "The Learning Page" http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/psources/mindwalk.html Regarding Primary Sources: Time & Place rule: the closer in time and place a source and its creator were to an event in the past, the better the source will be. Based on the time and place rule, better primary sources (starting with the most reliable) might include: Direct traces of the event; Accounts of the event, created at the time it occurred, by firsthand observers and participants; Accounts of the event, created after the event occurred, by firsthand observers and participants; Accounts of the event, created after the event occurred, by people who did not participate or witness the event, but who used interviews or evidence from the time of the event. Regarding Secondary Sources-- Currency - Up to date? New inventions? New discoveries in history, e.g., letters / journals found since article or book written?

Reliability Questions to Ask Author Qualified? Trustworthy? Bias? The Information / Writing Accurate, avoid stereotypes, balanced Currency or “Time & Place Rule” Review

EVALUATING SOURCES Primary vs. Secondary Reliability Research EVALUATING SOURCES Primary vs. Secondary Reliability