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SOC 201: Social Impact Project-Dr. Olson: Evaluating Sources

Overview

Evaluating sources can be a tricky task! When you use Google, Google gives you all kinds of results under the sun, some of which may not be valid sources. 

Using Google to search for information can be a great way to start your research but often time you will have to be careful on where you are finding information. Government sponsored websites with data are great sources! Forums of peoples opinions are generally not great sources!

Using your WWCC database list you can rest assure knowing that these databases and the information they contain have been vetted by professionals in their respective field for accuracy.

When in doubt you can always contact your WWCC librarian (hector.lujan@wwcc.edu) and I can help you check the source of any information you find.

There are many different methods for evaluating your sources. 

Below you will find a few examples that you can use.

The importance of a .GOV website domain

  • Official Status: A .gov domain is specifically reserved for government entities in the United States. By using a .gov domain, a government organization can unequivocally establish its official status, signaling to the public that it is a legitimate and authorized government agency.
  • Credibility and Trust: .gov domains are often associated with credibility and trustworthiness. When the public sees a .gov domain, they tend to have greater confidence in the information and services provided by the government organization. This trust is essential for disseminating important information and services to the public.
  • Clarity of Purpose: Using a .gov domain makes it clear that the website's primary purpose is to serve the public interest and fulfill government responsibilities. It reduces any potential confusion about the organization’s mission and legitimacy.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Government organizations are often subject to various legal and regulatory requirements, such as accessibility standards, data privacy regulations, and transparency mandates. 
  • Enhanced Public Service: A .gov domain helps government organizations fulfill their primary mission of serving the public by providing a clear and trusted channel for accessing government services, information, and resources.
  • Improved Visibility: Search engines and online directories often prioritize .gov websites in search results, leading to better visibility and easier access for users searching for government-related information and services.
  • Consistency and Branding: A .gov domain enables the government organization to maintain a consistent brand identity and align its digital presence with its official image. This makes it easier for the public to recognize and trust the organization.
  • Access to Government Resources: Many government organizations have access to specific resources, support, and services designed for .gov websites, which can enhance the functionality and security of their online presence. 

Evaluating Sources

Evaluating Sources

Evaluating Websites

Evaluating website content should be at similar standards for what you find in print.  No matter your information source, you want credible, reliable, objective, valid information.  Here are some specific tips to help you evaluate web content.

Tips for evaluating information from websites:

Determining AUTHORITY can be a bit more difficult when looking at information from web sources. Here are some standard website pages that may help when looking for author and/or publisher information:

  • About Us page can give insight into the purpose of the website or organization
  • Contributors or Staff page can give insight into the writers and their expertise
  • Contact Us page can give insight into who owns the website or organization and where they are located
  • News Releases page can give insight into how they are identifying or promoting themselves to the public
  • Links to these pages are often in the fine print at the bottom of the Home page
  • Be wary if facts, data, and stats are undocumented (not cited)
  • Keep in mind that while top-level domains (.com, .net, .org, .edu, .gov, .mil, .int, etc.) may give a clue about the quality of a website, NEVER ASSUME website info is credible or accurate on that basis alone

Determining TIMELINESS for web information sources may also prove challenging. At the very least, look to see if the website or web page tells you when it was last updated. Many websites do not include any dates on their web pages. If you need time sensitive information it's probably best to avoid using web info that does not include an exact published date.

Summed up in the table below!
Term Definition
Currency
  • When was the information created or last updated?
  • Date should be prominently displayed.
  • For electronic sources -- are links functional on site?*
Relevancy
  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information at an appropriate level (not too simple/not too advanced)?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
  • Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research project?
Authority
  • Who is the author?
  • Is the author the original creator of the information?
  • Are the author's occupation, education, or other credentials listed?
  • Who are the author’s organizational affiliations?
  • For websites -- what does the URL reveal about the author or source, i.e. .com, .org, .edu, .gov?*
Accuracy
  • Is the information verifiable?
  • Is it accurate?
  • Are their resources documented?
  • What does this source offer compared to other resources?
  • Are there spelling, grammar, or typographical errors?
  • Is the language or tone unbiased and free of emotion?
  • Can you verify the information in another source?
  • Is the information crowd sourced or vulnerable to changes by other authors, i.e. Wikipedia or other public wiki?*
Purpose
  • What appears to be the purpose of the information -- to inform, teach, sell, entertain, public services, or persuade?
  • Is the information biased?
  • Are there any advertisements?
  • Why is the author/creator providing this information?
Objectivity
  • What institution (company, organization, government, university, etc.) supports this information?
  • Does the institution appear to exercise quality control over the information appearing under its name?
  • Does the author's affiliation with this particular institution appear to bias the information?
  • Is there advertising and does it affect the content and message of the source?

And, here is a short video that answers the "Why" question and will challenge your thinking about evaluating even scholarly sources:

Why Evaluate? (5:46) (Links to an external site.)

P.R.O.V.E.N Method to Evaluate Sources