Evaluating Sources

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EVALUATING SOURCES

Evaluating Sources

 Evaluating Primary and Secondary Sources


 Evaluating Print and Online Sources
Evaluating Primary and Secondary
Sources

 Whether conducting research in the social


sciences, humanities (especially history),
arts, or natural sciences, the ability to
distinguish between primary and secondary
source material is essential.
Evaluating Primary and Secondary
Sources

  This distinction illustrates the degree to


which the author of a piece is removed from
the actual event being described, informing
the reader as to whether the author is
reporting impressions first hand (or is first to
record these immediately following an event),
or conveying the experiences and opinions of
others—that is, second hand.
Primary Sources

 These are contemporary accounts of an


event, written by someone who experienced
or witnessed the event in question. 
 These original documents (i.e., they are not
about another document or account) are
often diaries, letters, memoirs, journals,
speeches, manuscripts, interviews and other
such unpublished works.
Primary Sources

  They may also include published pieces


such as newspaper or magazine articles (as
long as they are written soon after the fact
and not as historical accounts), photographs,
audio or video recordings, research reports
in the natural or social sciences, or original
literary or theatrical works.
Secondary Sources

  The function of these is to interpret primary


sources, and so can be described as at least
one step removed from the event or
phenomenon under review. 
 Secondary source materials, then, interpret,
assign value to, conjecture upon, and draw
conclusions about the events reported in
primary sources. 
Secondary Sources

  These are usually in the form of published


works such as journal articles or books, but
may include radio or television
documentaries, or conference proceedings.
Defining Questions
  How does the author know these details (names,
dates, times)? Was the author present at the event
or soon on the scene?
 Where does this information come from—personal
experience, eyewitness accounts, or reports written
by others?
 Are the author's conclusions based on a single piece
of evidence, or have many sources been taken into
account (e.g., diary entries, along with third-party
eyewitness accounts, impressions of
contemporaries, newspaper accounts)?
Evaluating Print and Online Sources

 With the advent of the World Wide Web, we


are seeing a massive influx of digital texts
and sources. Understanding the difference
between what you can find on the web and
what you can find in more traditional print
sources is key.
Evaluating Print and Online Sources

 Some sources such as journal or newspaper articles


can be found in both print and digital format.
 However, much of what is found on the Internet does
not have a print equivalent, and hence, has low or no
quality standards for publication.
 Understanding the difference between the types of
resources available will help you evaluate what you
find.
Publication Process

 Print Sources: Traditional print sources go


through an extensive publication process that
includes editing and article review. The
process has fact-checkers, multiple
reviewers, and editors to ensure quality of
publication.
Publication Process

 Internet Sources: Anyone with a computer


and access to the Internet can publish a
website or electronic document. Most web
documents do not have editors, fact-
checkers, or other types of reviewers.
Authorship and Affiliations

 Print Sources: Print sources clearly indicate


who the author is, what organization(s) he or
she is affiliated with, and when his or her
work was published.
Authorship and Affiliations

 Internet Sources: Authorship and affiliations


are difficult to determine on the Internet.
Some sites may have author and
sponsorship listed, but many do not.
Sources and Quotations

 Print Sources: In most traditional


publications, external sources of information
and direct quotations are clearly marked and
identified.
 Internet Sources: Sources the author used
or referred to in the text may not be clearly
indicated in an Internet source.
Bias and Special Interests

 Print Sources: While bias certainly exists in


traditional publications, printing is more
expensive and difficult to accomplish. Most
major publishers are out to make a profit and
will either not cater to special interest groups
or will clearly indicate when they are catering
to special interest groups.
Bias and Special Interests

 Internet Sources: The purpose of the online


text may be misleading. A website that
appears to be factual may actually be
persuasive and/or deceptive.
Author Qualifications

 Print Sources: Qualifications of an author


are almost always necessary for print
sources. Only qualified authors are likely to
have their manuscripts accepted for
publication.
Author Qualifications

 Internet Sources: Even if the author and


purpose of a website can be determined, the
qualifications of the author are not always
given.
Publication Information

 Print Sources: Publication information such


as date of publication, publisher, author, and
editor are always clearly listed in print
publications.
Publication Information

 Internet Sources: Dates of publication and


timeliness of information are questionable on
the internet. Dates listed on websites could
be the date posted, date updated, or a date
may not be listed at all.
Examples
REMEMBER
Sources

Distinguishing between Primary and Secondary Sources. (n.d.). Retrieved from


http://library.ucsc.edu/help/howto/distinguish-between-primary-and-secondary-
sources
Driscoll, Dana Lynn and Brizee, Allen. Evaluating Print vs. Internet Sources. 6 June
2010. Retrieved from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/553/04/
Primary vs. Secondary Sources. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://lib1.bmcc.cuny.edu/help/sources.html

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