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InfoSkills for Social and Behavioral Sciences

InfoSkills @ TiU

Source credibility

Assessing the credibility and relevance of the sources you find is an essential step in selecting appropriate materials for a writing assignment. But how can you do that? Let’s review the types of sources we've covered so far.

Credibility of traditionally published sources

Popular 

 - / + When it comes to credibility, there is significant variation among popular sources. This category includes everything from entertainment books (e.g., Life is Too Short) and magazines (e.g., Celebrity) to reputable newspapers (e.g., The New York Times) and respected popular magazines (e.g., Popular Science).

Professional 

 + Professional books and journals are reliable and provide expert insights, but they vary in quality and aren't as authoritative as scholarly sources, which are often based on original research and undergo a more thorough review and validation process.

Scholarly 

 ++ Scholarly journals and books are the most credible among traditionally published sources. This is due to the high-quality control standards in traditional scholarly publishing, which ensure these sources have the highest level of reliability and credibility.

The conclusion must be that the credibility of popular and professional sources. But even with scholarly sources, you should always be critical.

For example, the reputable scholarly journal British Medical Journal (BMJ) pulled an April Fools day joke in 2006. An article published in BMJ, dated April 1, described a new psychological disorder, Motivational Deficiency Disorder, something that turned out to be extreme laziness. A quote from the article: "Neuroscientists at the University of Newcastle in Australia say that in severe cases motivational deficiency disorder can be fatal, because the condition reduces the motivation to breathe." The prank, however, had a purpose: the article was designed to bring attention to a conference on so-called disease mongering, the medicalization of ordinary conditions.

In some cases, scholarly articles may be retracted if significant errors, data manipulation, or fraud are discovered after publication. Retraction is a process where the article is officially withdrawn from the academic record. 

Credibility of grey literature

Unlike "white" literature (traditional scholarly sources), grey literature typically has less rigorous quality control, and in some cases, none at all. As a result, some grey literature may not be reliable and could be unsuitable for use in assignments.

That being said, grey literature can still be credible and highly valuable. For example, recent research might not yet be published in a journal or book but could be found in working papers or conference papers. Reports from professional organizations may offer more in-depth or practical insights than traditionallu published sources. Government and EU publications, whether academic or not, are generally considered trustworthy. Additionally, many respected academics, journalists, and public figures share reliable information through blogs.

It is clear that every source you consider using in your work must be carefully evaluated. To effectively assess sources, you need clear guidelines that help you identify reliable information and avoid potential pitfalls. 

The CRAAP test

How can you determine if a source is credible? One common method is the CRAAP test.

CRAAP is an acronym for the five key criteria used to assess whether a source is credible and useful: currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. To determine which sources are appropriate for your assignment, evaluate them by asking the questions associated with each of these criteria. Ensure that every source you plan to use in your assignment meets the standards of the CRAAP test!

CRAAP questions

The timeliness of the source

If having current, up-to-date information is crucial for your topic, then ask:

  • When was the information published or posted?
    Using outdated information can lead to misinterpretations and incorrect conclusions.
  • Has the information been revised or updated?
    Newer editions or versions may reflect the most current research or information. 
  • Are the links functional?
    Broken links can be a warning sign, suggesting that the website may be poorly maintained or unreliable.

How the source fits your needs 

Not all information about your topic will be relevant to your needs. The information must be useful. To determine if it is, ask:

  • Is the information relevant to your topic or does it address your assignment or research question?
  • Does the information help you understand your topic better?
  • Who is the target audience?
    Identifying whether the content is meant for experts, students, or the general public helps assess its complexity and bias.
  • Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e., not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
  • Have you reviewed multiple sources before deciding to use this one?
    Comparing different sources helps ensure that the information you choose is credible, relevant, and provides a comprehensive view of the topic.

The origin of the source

When discussing authority, we are referring to the author. Understanding who wrote and published the information helps determine whether it is credible and unbiased.

  • Who is the author, book publisher, magazine or journal publisher, or (if the source is a website) sponsor?
  • What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
    If the author works at a university or research institute, you may be looking at a scholarly source. Be sure to check if the source also has the other characteristics of scholarly sources discussed earlier in this module.
  • Does the author have the expertise to write about this topic? Check the author’s background—look for their education, job title, experience, or previous work on the topic.
  • Is contact information provided, like an email address?
  • Does the URL provide any clues about the author or the source? 
    Websites with .edu and .gov domains are generally reliable.
    • .edu (used by educational institutions)
    • .gov (used by US government bodies)
    • .com (these sites are commercial and may prioritize selling over accuracy)
    • .org (these sites are often nonprofit organizations, which can be trustworthy but vary in bias)

Important To help answer the Authority questions, check out a website's About Us page.

The reliability and correctness of the source

Since you’re probably not an expert on your research topic, it’s important to ensure that the claims made in your sources are accurate.

  • What is the origin of the source?
  • Is the information backed up with evidence?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
    If that’s the case, you’re likely looking at a traditionally published book or a scholarly journal article. Be sure the source also meets the other criteria for scholarly sources discussed earlier in this module. 
  • Can you cross-check the information with other sources?
    Never rely on just one source!
  • Is the language or tone neutral and objective, without emotional bias?
  • Are there any spelling, grammar, or typographical mistakes?

Why the source was created

Information can be shared to inform, persuade, entertain, or convince you to buy something. 

  • What is the purpose of the source? 
  • Do the authors or sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
  • Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
  • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, or other biases?

Important To help answer these questions, always review the website's 'About Us' section (if available). It provides insights into the website's purpose and viewpoint.

Watch this brief video about the CRAAP test:

Source: McMaster University Library. Published under a CC BY 3.0 license.

 

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License by Tilburg University.