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Chemistry: Evaluating Sources

Chemistry Subject Guide

News Sources: Real or Fake?

How to Spot Fake News.jpg
By IFLA - http://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174, CC BY 4.0, Link

For a printable version go to: https://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174

Evaluating Media Bias

Media Bias Chart

 

By ad fontes media.  For a printable version go to: https://www.adfontesmedia.com/the-chart-second-edition/

Evaluating Information Sources

When evaluating the veracity of sources (articles, websites, etc.) consider the following criteria:

1.  Are the sources authoritative and relevant? Is it possible to determine:

  • Currency of information
  • Sources cited in the work / Sources citing the work
  • Person(s) participating in creating the source
  • If there are balance viewpoints
  • Peer Reviewed / Refereed / Scholarly
  • To what sites do the links/URLS in the sources go

2.  Are the sources from:

  • Trade publications (e.g. Time/Warner )
  • University presses (e.g. Duke University Press)
  • Professional associations (American Chemical Society, National Education Association )
  • Primary, secondary, tertiary sources
  • Websites (for example: .com,  .org., .edu, .gov)