Credible Source: Five tips to determine if your source is credible

Summary

In this video, Chelsea Seaburn of The Smart Student explains the importance of using credible sources for research. She introduces the 'CRAP test,' which stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose, to help assess source reliability. Chelsea emphasizes that in an age where anyone can post online, it's crucial to verify the trustworthiness of information. She provides a detailed checklist for viewers to follow, ensuring sources are unbiased and fact-based. The video encourages students to be critical of their sources and offers practical tips to enhance their research skills.

Takeaways

• 🔍 A credible source is trustworthy, unbiased, and backed by real facts, crucial for research.
• 🌐 The internet allows anyone to post content, so it's important to verify the credibility of online sources.
• 📝 The 'CRAP' test is a widely used tool to evaluate the credibility of sources, focusing on Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
• ⏳ Currency refers to how timely a source is. Information should ideally be from the last 10 years, especially in fields like science.
• 🔗 Relevance ensures the information is directly applicable to your topic. A source close to your topic but slightly off could mislead your research.
• 👩‍🎓 Authority refers to the qualifications of the author. Look for credentials and affiliations, such as government or educational institutions, to establish credibility.
• ✔️ Accuracy is about ensuring the information is supported by real evidence and free from vague claims or bias.
• 🎯 Purpose refers to the reason behind the source's existence. It's essential to be aware of bias, whether personal, political, or ideological.
• 🤔 Always remain skeptical when conducting online research and verify that the source checks out in terms of credibility and bias.
• 📋 A downloadable checklist is available to help evaluate the credibility of sources using the CRAP test framework.

Q & A

What is a credible source?

A credible source is a trustworthy source that is unbiased and backed by real facts, ensuring the information it provides is reliable.

Why does credibility matter when researching?

Credibility matters because information found online can be manipulated or false. Using credible sources ensures that the information used for academic or professional purposes is accurate and reliable.

What are the five elements of the CRAAP test?

The five elements of the CRAAP test are Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. These criteria help determine the credibility of a source.

What does the 'Currency' element refer to?

Currency refers to the timeliness of the information. A good source should be published within the last 10 years unless the research is specifically about analyzing past data.

How can you check the relevance of a source?

Relevance refers to how well the information fits your topic. You should check whether the information is applicable to your needs, if it fits your intended audience, and if it supports your research.

Why is the authority of the author important?

Authority refers to the qualifications of the author to write on the topic. A credible source will have authors with appropriate credentials or affiliations with recognized institutions, such as government or educational websites.

What are signs that a source might lack accuracy?

Signs of inaccuracy include vague phrases like 'recent studies show' without proper evidence, or broad statements like 'many people believe' without identifying who those people are. You should always check if the information can be backed up by facts.

What does the 'Purpose' element evaluate?

Purpose evaluates why the information exists. You need to check if the source has any bias, whether it is promoting a product or presenting facts objectively, and if there are any ideological or political motivations behind the content.

What should you be skeptical of when using online sources?

You should be skeptical of bias, unsupported claims, and outdated information. Being skeptical ensures you only use reliable, accurate, and current sources in your research.

Where can you find the checklist that was mentioned in the video?

The checklist for evaluating credible sources can be downloaded from the description of the video, and it serves as a guide to help assess the credibility of any online source.