Credibility of Sources

Types of Sources  Primary Sources  Firsthand accounts: obtained by coming from direct or personal observation or experience

Books  Books – excellent source – BUT:  Problems:  Not as easy as online  May be limited by what is available  May be outdated

Databases  Databases: excellent source  Problems:  You have to learn how to use them properly  They are expensive  You have to have access to them  Advantages:  Mt. View has access to multiple databases  You can access them for home

The Internet  Internet – worst research source overall, HOWEVER, it can have excellent sources.  What to look for:  Domain name  Date  Author/Organization  Contact information  Slant/Bias

Domain Names .edu – education sites .gov – government sites .org – organization sites .com – commercial sites .net – network infrastructures  588/02/

Special Interest Sites  Maintained by non-profit organizations or activists dealing with special issues  Problems:  Biased by nature  Credibility is questionable  Can be mainstream or radical  Usually are.org

Professional Sites  Maintained by institutions or organizations  Advantages:  Good source for research and reference sources  Credible as long as the institution or organization is  Can be difficult to understand

News and Journalistic Sites  Include national, international news, online newspapers, and magazines  Advantages  Lots of different sources CNN, MSNBC, US News and World Report, Fox News, Newsweek, etc.  Problems  Authorship?  Reputable?

Commercial Sites  Business sites  Problems:  May or may not be legitimate  Naturally biased  Inflated reviews  Impartial comparisons  Trying to sell a product

So how do you know who to trust?  Ask the following questions:  Accuracy  Are the sources listed for the facts?  Can information be verified through another source?  Has the site been edited for grammar, spelling, etc?

 Authority  Is the publisher reputable?  Is the sponsorship clear?  Is a phone number or postal address available?  Is there a link to the sponsoring organization?  Is the author qualified to write on this topic?  Coverage  Does the content appear to be complete?  Are the topics covered in depth?

 Objectivity  Does the sponsor have commercial interests?  Is advertising included on the page?  Are there obvious biases?  Currency  Is a publication date indicated?  Is there a date for the last update?  Is the topic one that does not change frequently?

Biggest problem with the internet - Plagiarism  Plagiarism Definition:  To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own : use without crediting the source  To commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source Merriam-Webster

Plagiarism Video  SNL SNL