Wiki Page, GOTT Clover II: Evaluate (3 of 5): The Case for Credibility

Wiki Page
2016-08-14T21:35:35-06:00

What does it mean for a source to be credible? It's not always as simple as finding a .org or .gov website, or having at least an author and date. You will need to investigate further and build a case for credibility, providing evidence that supports your decision to use a source or not.

The answer might seem mysterious, but if you know what clues to look for, you can solve the case. Follow these steps to help you determine whether your source is credible.

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Step 1 - Context: What is your information need? What is your topic or research question? Think about what kind of source(s) you need to use and for what purpose.

Step 2 - Define: What clues do you look for when trying to decide something is credible? Make sure to define credibility in terms of content of the information, not its format. In other words, credibility is not dependent on whether the information is delivered in print or electronically. Define credibility in terms of qualities that are related to the source’s content, currency, and authorship.

Step 3 - Question: Examine your definition. Ask yourself how your own personal biases or points of view might influence your definition of credibility and the application of your definition.

Step 4 - Apply: Apply your definition to the information source. Read the source and look for the clues that you decided indicated credibility.

Step 5 - Purpose: Consider the purpose of the source. What is the author trying to accomplish, and what impact does that have on its credibility?

Step 6 - Decide: Decide if your source is credible. Does it meet the requirements you’ve defined? Why or why not?

The assignment at the end of this module will ask you to apply these steps to a source to determine it's credibility. While you may not always go through each step, it's important to think about your definition of credibility as you search for information and include it in your work.