Evaluating Sources

BioTech BiblioBytesSeptember 2012

The Research Cycle

Evaluating

Ethics

Pre-Research

Research

Popular Articles

Popular Articles

Intended for wide audience (general population)

Short articles that are not signed (no author)

Non-technical, simple writing style

Focus on current events, popular topics

Usually published daily, weekly or monthly

Credibility

Goal: An authoritative source, a source that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.

Accuracy

Goal: A source that is correct today (not yesterday), a source that gives the whole truth.

Reliability

Goal: A source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably, concerned with the truth.

Supportability

Goal: A source that provides convincing evidence for the claims made, a source you can triangulate (find at least two other sources that support it). 

C.A.R.S.

Guidelines for evaluating sources.

CredibilityAccuracyReliabilitySupportability

C.A.R.S. Source: Harris, Robert. "Evaluating Internet Research Sources.“ VirtualSalt. 17 Nov. 1997.  17 Oct 2000 <http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm>.

Final Step

Apply the smell test.

Practice time!

1) Evaluate for: CredibilityAccuracyReliabilitySupportability

Scholarly Articles

Scholarly Articles

Intended for limited audience (academic audience)

Written by scholars in the field and are usually

signed articles (not anonymous)

More complex writing style

Main purpose is to report on original research

Published bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or

annually

BioTech Criteria

Is the article from a peer reviewed journal?

Are any conflicts of interest stated?Is a reference list provided?

http://www.vadlo.com/Cartoons/Life_in_Research_Cartoon_1198.html

Practice time!

1) Evaluate using the BioTech criteria: 1) Is the article from a peer reviewed journal?2) Are any conflicts of interest stated?3) Is there a reference list and how complete is it?

2) Evaluate using an additional two questions from the whiteboard.