The definition of a credible source can change depending on the discipline, but in general, for academic writing, a credible source is one that is unbiased and is backed up with evidence . When writing a research paper, always use and cite credible sources.
How do you know if a source is credible?
- 1) Accuracy. Verify the information you already know against the information found in the source. ...
- 2) Authority. Make sure the source is written by a trustworthy author and/or institution. ...
- 3) Currency. ...
- 4) Coverage.
What makes a source accurate and credible?
A reliable source is one that provides a thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, discussion, etc. based on strong evidence . Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles or books -written by researchers for students and researchers.
Is .org a credible source?
Check the domain name
Look at the three letters at the end of the site's domain name, such as “edu” (educational), “gov” (government), “org” (nonprofit), and “com” (commercial). Generally, . edu and . gov websites are credible , but beware of sites that use these suffixes in an attempt to mislead.
Why is it important to use credible sources?
It is important to use credible sources in an academic research paper because your audience will expect you to have backed up your assertions with credible evidence . ... Using evidence that does not come from a credible source of information will not convince your reader that your claim is plausible or even correct.
What are 5 Reliable Sources?
- materials published within last 10 years;
- research articles written by respected and well-known authors;
- websites registered by government and educational institutions (. gov, . edu, . ...
- academic databases (i.e. Academic Search Premier or JSTOR);
- materials from Google Scholar.
What makes a source not credible?
Non-credible websites may have a poor design, broken links, and grammar and spelling errors . They may lack author, date and/or source information. They will not be associated with credible institutions, organizations, or entities. They may contain unbelievable or incorrect information.
How do you know if a Web source is reliable?
- Look for Established Institutions. ...
- Look for Sites with Expertise. ...
- Steer Clear of Commercial Sites. ...
- Beware of Bias. ...
- Check the Date. ...
- Consider the Site's Look. ...
- Avoid Anonymous Authors. ...
- Check the Links.
What is credibility and why is it important?
Credibility is a judgment that the audience makes about how believable the communicator is , adds psychologist Dan O'Keefe. And it's important because people often choose to respond to a persuasive message based not on the content but on their perception of the communicator.
What are three qualities of credible sources?
Whenever you are looking at a source on the internet, you should check several things to verify that the information is credible. These things include the source's authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage .
Which source is most credible?
Academic journal articles are probably the most reliable source of current thinking in your field. To be the most reliable they need to be peer reviewed. This means that other academics have read them before publication and checked that they are making claims that are backed up by their evidence.
What are the most trustworthy websites?
- BBC News. BBC News is one of the most trusted sources you can ever find. ...
- The Economist. ...
- The Wall Street Journal. ...
- Google News. ...
- The Guardian. ...
- CNN.
Is Google Scholar credible?
Only credible , scholarly material is included in Google Scholar, according to the inclusion criteria: “content such as news or magazine articles, book reviews, and editorials is not appropriate for Google Scholar.” Technical reports, conference presentations, and journal articles are included, as are links to Google ...
What is a credible source for research?
Credible sources are written by authors respected in their fields of study . Responsible, credible authors will cite their sources so that you can check the accuracy of and support for what they've written. (This is also a good way to find more sources for your own research.)
What is the danger of using unreliable websites?
Unreliable sources may give inaccurate information , meaning the wrong decision is made. Unreliable sources may be out of date; meaning a decision which should have been made if the information had been received on time is missed. This could result in a lost opportunity.
What makes a website trustworthy?
Author – Information on the internet with a listed author is one indication of a credible site. The fact that the author is willing to stand behind the information presented (and in some cases, include his or her contact information) is a good indication that the information is reliable.
