Source Criticism
Evaluating information and being critical is an essential part of academic reading and writing.
Three steps of evaluating information sources
- Find out your information need in relation to your issue, e.g. scientific articles, legislation, statistics, reference works....
- Determine whether it is a primary or secondary source. The two types of literature sources have different tasks and are used in different ways. It is therefore important that you can identify them.
- Primary sources; In primary sources you will find new and not before published information. For example, original research articles, research reports, doctoral dissertations, etc.
- Secondary sources; refers (oftent) to the primary sources and give you an overview of a certain field or subject. e.g. review articles, textbooks, encyclopedia etc.
- Have a critical view of the source and always ask questions about it. You can use the four criteria Credibility, Objectivity, Accuracy and Relevance to assess sources:
Who is the author?
Examine:
Education
Affiliation
Position
Contact information
Is the author giving reasoned statements within his/her own field of research?
What kind of source?
Examine:
primary/secondary/ peer-reviewed?
Where is the source published?
Examine:
Reputable publisher
If an internet source, who is behind (organization, editor, author)?
If a journal, is the journal reputable, peer-reviewed?
What is the purpose?
Examine:
Does the author want to convince or inform?
Is the information comprehensive, factual, unbiased?
Is the information one-sided vs. are all aspects taken into account?
Is there conflicts of interest or conflict with previous reputable sources?
Is the publication verifiable and peer-reviewed?
Who has sponsored the research?
What institution is the author affiliated to?
Is the information source updated, comprehensive, detailed and precise?
Examine:
When was the source published / revised (in particular websites and books)?
Are statements reasoned, consistent, detailed and precise?
Are there references that show that the author has researched the topic?
Is the information verified in other sources?
Is the source relevant to your information needs and your task?
Examine:
What subject area does the source cover, control e.g. title and abstract if a scientific article?
What sort of source e.g. news article or research article?
Is it experts og laymen who are behind the source?
Who is the information written for?
Why was it published?