Research 101

Credible Sources

Learning Target

I can assess the credibility of a source.

Think About This…

What do the terms “trustworthy” and “reliable” mean to you?

News Brief #1

“My mom said we are going to have a fire drill today. She teaches at our school, so she would know. I also heard that we are going to have a pizza party to celebrate the first week of school. Someone also told me that we are getting out of school early on Friday because the bus schedule got messed up.”

(source: school bus conversation)

News Brief #2

“I think there is going to be a school dance on Friday to celebrate the first week of school. I think I’ll volunteer to help decorate the gym. I need to hurry up and get out of here, because I just heard that there is going to be a fire drill in five minutes.”

(source: parent in the hallway)

News Brief #3

“In honor of our first week of school, we are going to have a pep rally on Friday in the school gym. We want to show our school spirit! Also, teachers be aware, be prepared for a fire drill and be sure to go over the procedures for exiting the building with your students. If you need more information, please see me before noon today.” (source: school principal on morning announcements)

What is a Credible Source?• A credible source is one that is defined to be

reliable, accurate, believable, and trustworthy.• Sources of information include:– Interviews– Books– Newspapers and magazines– Periodicals – Websites

What is a Credible Source?

You can ask yourself these questions to find out if a source is credible:Who is the author? Does he or she have a good reputation?How recent is the information? (For example, was it written in 1989 or 2011?)What is the author’s purpose?

Who is a More Credible Source?

Which is a More Credible Source?

Website Credibility

• You MUST be careful when using information from the Internet.

• Credible sources of information from the Internet most often come from sites that use .gov and .edu.

Things to Look For on a Website…

Is there an author listed on the website? Does the author provide contact information?

What is the purpose of the website?How recent is the web page? When was the

page last updated?Are there links to other useful sites?Is the web page professional? (no spelling and

grammar errors, loads easily, good use of color and graphics)

LET’S PRACTICE…