SYN: Lesson - Evaluating Sources

A series of wooden stars are placed on a set of stairs.Evaluating Sources

One of the most valuable skills you can have when it comes to synthesis is the ability to evaluate the credibility, reliability, and relevancy of sources. When approaching a source, you should always ask where the source comes from, who wrote it, and if it is relevant to the topic about which you’re writing. If you’re writing an essay about health impacts of space travel, then a source written by someone who specializes in music therapy might not be the most relevant and reliable as it pertains to your topic. Likewise, a published author in the field of sociology would be much more credible than a graduate student studying social behavior if you were researching something like trends in crime.

With so much information available to you (through online databases, websites, and print media), it can be paralyzing to decide which sources to use and which will be most helpful. Fortunately, there are ways to evaluate a source.

The C.R.A.A.P Test

This is an acronym that you can use when evaluating a source you have located online. Look at the source and consider the following characteristics:

  • Currency
  • Reliability
  • Authority (of the author)
  • Authority (of the organization)
  • Purpose or Point of View

Take a look at the following video that explains this tool in greater detail:

Source Tiers

As you probably know, not all sources are equal. Some sources, such as journal articles that have been peer-reviewed, are much more reliable than a blog. Use the following “tiers” to help you determine the overall reliability of a source. They range from most credible and reliable (Tier 1) to least credible and reliable (Tier 4).

When working on a research paper, stick with Tier 1 and 2 sources, although you CAN use one Tier 3 source to help you with setting the context of your topic/question.

Tier 1

Peer-reviewed, scholarly journal articles
(ex: Journal of Anthropology)

Tier 2

Specialty publications or organizations that provide research reports on specific issues
(ex: www.cdc.gov, the World Health Organization)

Tier 3

News magazines, newspapers, and sites that cover a range of topics
(ex: ABC News, The New York Times, CNN)

Tier 4

Blogs, .com websites and social media sites
(ex: Reddit, Facebook, etc.)

Practice Activity

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