10 Questions
Information from URLs with .gov domains is typically accurate and reliable.
True
Which of the following is a red flag while assessing the credibility of a source?
Information is obviously biased
Which of the sources would you pick if you are doing a research on the Law of Supply and Demand?
An Introduction to Theories on Economics
Which of the sources would you pick if you are doing a research on accumulating wealth?
The Science of Getting Rich
Which of the sources would you pick if you are doing a research on traders with excellent track records of profitability?
Market Wizards
Which of the following texts would you use for a research regarding the Holocaust?
Dark Shadows of the Past: A Comparative Study on the Holocaust and the Death March; authored by Mao Guevarra, Ph.D. in History
Which material will you use for a research on electromagnetism?
Basics of Electromagnetism, 2015
Which of these sources would you use for a research on Marxism?
Karl Marx and the Fundamentals of Marxism, Fred Angle
Study Notes
Evaluating Sources
- There are two types of sources: primary and secondary.
- Primary sources:
- Original, first-hand information
- Examples: diaries, speeches, transcriptions, surveys, government reports, paintings, literary writings, photographs, scientific experiments and research results
- Secondary sources:
- Accounts of events or interpretations of creative or scientific works
- Examples: biographies, article reviews, journal articles, research publications
Location of Sources
- Physical sources:
- Books, journals, articles, etc.
- Electronic sources:
- Online articles, websites, etc.
Criteria in Evaluating Sources
- Relevance:
- How well does the source support the research topic?
- Check the title, table of contents, summary, introduction, or headings to determine relevance
- Authority:
- Is the author's name identified?
- Is the author's background, education, or training related to the topic?
- Check the university's website to verify the author's affiliation
- Check for publications and citations
- Currency:
- What is the date of publication?
- In most fields, data from older publications may no longer be valid
- Prefer sources with a publication date within the last five years
- Contents/Accuracy:
- Does the author have a lot of citations and/or a bibliography?
- Is the tone and style of writing formal?
- Is the information inaccurate or biased?
- Verify findings with multiple sources to ensure accuracy
Additional Tips
- Avoid using blogs or personal homepages and wiki sites
- Check the URL for top-level domains such as .edu, .gov, .net, and .org
- Evaluate websites using criteria such as accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage
- Be cautious of sources with obvious biases or prejudices
This quiz covers the different types of sources, including primary sources, and how to evaluate them. Learn about primary sources such as diaries, journals, and government reports.
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