Fact From Fiction

Always check to see if a writer has the authority on a given topic before using information. Consider the author's credentials which may include professional affiliations, academic and professional credentials, reputation, and prior publications.

Who is the author? Credible sources are written by authors respected in their fields of study and has authority to write on a topic. Responsible, credible authors will cite their sources so they can be checked for accuracy of and support their writing. (These citations are a good way of finding additional sources for your research.)

What is the author's purpose? Consider the author's purpose or perspective. Is the author presenting a neutral, objective view or advocating one specific view of a topic? Who is funding the research or writing of this source? A source written from a particular point of view may be credible; however, don't limit your coverage of a topic to one side of a debate.

Who is your audience? A professional or academic audience may value peer-reviewed journals as the most credible sources of information. Whereas a group of residents in your hometown may be more comfortable with mainstream sources, such as Time or Newsweek. A younger audience may be more accepting of information found on he internet than an older audience.

Be carefully evaluate Internet sources! Never use websites where an author cannot be determined or is listed as "anonymous," unless the site is associated with a reputable institution such as a respected university, a credible media outlet, government program or department, or well-known non-governmental organizations. Sites such as Wikipedia are collaboratively developed by any user and vary in content quality may not meet academic research standards.

adapted from Purdue's Online Writing Lab: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/