Question

What are some ways that you can determine if information is reliable or trustworthy

Answer 1

Ans:-

Not all written sources are reliable, no matter how sound their arguments may appear to be. To evaluate the reliability of a piece of writing, you must consider several issues related to the subject and to the person or publisher that presents it. Is the information current? Is it related directly to the topic it discusses? Does it provide sources for supporting ideas? Are these sources reliable? Is the purpose of the information to inform, to persuade, to sell, or even to entertain? Has the information been written and published recently? Does a date of publication appear? Finally, who is responsible for the information? Is an author or publisher listed at all?

Some topics (such as medical research and new technical information) must be up-to-date to be valuable to readers. However, bias and opinion compromise even recent information, keeping it from being objective and trustworthy.

The following tips will help you determine a good source from one that’s biased, outdated, or inaccurate:

1.   Check the domain name

2.   Take a closer look at the source

3.   Search for additional information to back up what you’ve found

4.   Use certain sources only to jump-start additional research

=>   There are several main ways for determining whether a information is reliable or trustworthy.

1) Accuracy -> Verify the information you already know against the information found in the source. Look also for disclaimers as to the accuracy of the content. You may also want to double-check the information against a source that you already know is trustworthy. Even though a source may use technical language, the content may be misleading.

2) Authority -> Make sure the source is written by a trustworthy author and/or institution. If you are using a webpage, you can usually identify the owner/publisher by the URL, or check for a copyright statement near the bottom of the page. Make sure the author has the proper credentials on the subject matter. Also, determine if the source is biased. For example, if it is medical information from a drug company, that company will provide information in support of its product. Be aware of the objectivity of the author and his/her viewpoints.

3) Currency -> Depending on your subject, your currency needs will vary. For topics related to recent breakthroughs in medicine and technology, you will need to find up-to-date sources. If, however, you are researching a historical topic, older resources may still be useful. For webpages, you can often find a copyright date near the bottom. Also, look for the words "revised" or "updated" to find the date of the website.

4) Coverage -> You will also want to examine the content of the source and how it fits your information needs. Identify its relevancy to your topic and whether or not it addresses the subject matter. Also, make sure it provides enough information if you are looking for a source that discusses the matter in-depth. Additionally, determine if the site provides all the data you may need. For example, if you need to include graphs or charts in your paper, try to find a source that provides these.

To summarize, check who published the source, the purpose of the source, when it was created/updated, and its content. Also see if it has any potential bias and, if a webpage, provides references or reliable links to other sources.