Evaluating & Selecting Sources: Quiz

You are writing a problem/solution paper for your English writing course that requires at least four specific types of sources: A book published within the last five years A scholarly article from a peer-reviewed journal Information from a government agency or non-profit organization related to your topic A documentary film Match the research tool (Google/OneSearch) that will allow you to search for and freely access the sources that are required.

A book published within the last five years OneSearch A scholarly article from a peer-reviewed journal OneSearch Information from a government agency or non-profit organization Google A documentary film OneSearch

Information is rarely neutral. It's important to identify any biases in a source and decide whether such viewpoints bring value to your assignment. If you were writing a persuasive essay on the health benefits of becoming vegan, which of the following sources, though biased, would add value to your argument?

An interview with a former diabetic who praises a vegan diet, saying the switch helped her get off insulin.

Publication dates help you determine the "When" of a source: When was this information created? Many topics need a balance of older and newer sources. For which of the following research scenarios would a balance of old and new sources be appropriate?

For a political science paper, you're researching how U.S. immigration policies have changed over time.

When exploring the "Who" of a source, it's not enough to simply identify the author or publisher. You need to use that information to establish credibility. What are some questions you can ask yourself to help establish credibility? (select the best answer)

Has the author studied and written a lot about the topic making them an expert? Has the author lived an experience giving them a unique perspective? Is the publisher well-respected and unbiased?

If you find a website on your topic, but can't find a date of publication, what are some other ways to evaluate the currency of the website?

Look for broken links or references to old news or facts. These clues would indicate the website was not written recently.

Which of the following best describes the advantages of starting your research using OneSearch rather than a search engine like Google?

OneSearch gives students free access to published scholarly material like books and journal articles, and it's easier to verify authority.

The "Why" question helps you determine relevance: Why would I use this source instead of another one? What are two factors to look at when thinking about why a source is relevant to answer your research question?

Scope and Perspective - scope refers to the amount of information and focus of the source, perspective describes the point of view of the source.

The "Who" question can help you determine the credibility of a source, and it applies to both the author(s) and publisher. Look at this academic journal article on fast-food menu labels. Which of the following "who" clues indicate the authors are credible? (select the best answer)

The authors establish credibility by listing their credentials including, MD (medical doctor), PhD (doctorate degree), and MPH (masters in public health). This shows all authors have high levels of education. It also lists the organizations at which they work; all are connected to children's health making them experts on this topic.

The "Where" of a source helps you determine its credibility: Where can I verify information in this source? Which of the following is NOT a "where" clue to help you establish credibility?

The geographic location of the source

What can the who, what, when, where, and why questions of information evaluation help you determine? (select the best answer)

They help you determine whether a source is relevant (meets your information need) and credible (provides reliable, accurate information).

You are writing an informative essay on the role of African American soldiers during the Civil War for your history class. Which of the following sources would NOT be a good fit for your paper. In other words, when you ask the "why" question - which source doesn't add something relevant to your informative paper?

An article titled, "Walking with Civil War Ghosts" in Washington Magazine, which provides information on the 10 places in Washington, D.C. where people can relive significant Civil War events.

Clues in a source can help you determine the "What" question: What is the purpose of this source? Which of the following clues could help you identify a source whose purpose is to share an opinion?

Often written in the first person ("I think..." "we should...") and displays a clear bias on an issue (for or against something).