Credible sources is a term you’ll hear a lot from the library and your instructors, when it comes to finding and using resources for your assignments. A credible source is a reliable source of information. A credible source is one you can trust, that offers quality information, and is non-biased.
First, you need to find a source. Then you evaluate it to see if it is credible.
How do you know if a source is credible? You need to evaluate it. You probably evaluate sources, without even realizing it. Consider, if you saw an ad that read “Great new car for $1.” You would probably be skeptical. You might think to yourself:
- Who is posting this?
- Why would they be selling a “great new car” for only $1?
- Are they trying to trick me?
Kudos! You were evaluating the source! You were considering who the author was, what the purpose was, and asking if this could be accurate and reliable. You might even go so far as to verify the source- looking for other people who saw the ad, and asking what they knew about it.
When it comes to looking for information sources, use those same instincts.
- Is there an author? Is it a real person or a handle? Can you verify who they are?
- Why are they telling you this?
- Is this current or outdated?
- Does the author show proof or evidence of their claims? Would they have some bias in making this claim (i.e. trying to sell you something, or influence you to do something in their benefit)?
The library recommends using the TRAP Test to start evaluating if a resource may be worth looking into or passing.
