Evaluating Sources – Especially Online Sources and AI-Generated Content
When assessing sources, consider:
- Reliability and accuracy of information
- Availability and permanence of the document
- Timeliness and impartiality
- Copyright issues
WHAT?
- Purpose: Why was the text written? Who benefits financially, politically, or through followers/clicks?
- Audience: Who is the material aimed at—like-minded individuals, the general public, or the scientific community?
- Objectivity: How objective or subjective is the information? Are the statements facts or opinions?
- Basis of information: Does the text rely on surveys, the author’s opinion, or personal experiences?
- Scope: How broadly is the topic covered? Are different perspectives considered?
- Arguments: What evidence supports the claims? Are sources cited? Do the arguments logically support the claims?
- References: Does the publication include a reference list? What types of sources are used? How recent are they?
- Verification: Is there research-based information on the topic? Do multiple independent sources confirm the same content?
- Quality: Is the publication well-structured? Does it use scientific language and terminology?
- Format: Does it follow the IMRD structure—Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion?
WHO?
- Author’s background and qualifications: Academic background, education, work experience, publications, memberships, affiliations, and funding sources.
- Author’s organization: Mission, values, goals; national or international scope.
- Reputation: Citations, awards, research funding.
- Motives: What is the author’s intent—ideological, political, or commercial reasons?
- Credibility: Was the information produced by a recognized agency, organization, or expert? Contact details can reveal background.
WHERE?
- Publication venue: Website, newspaper, magazine, scholarly journal, etc.
- Publisher or sponsor: Who is behind the publication?
- Peer review: Is the publication peer-reviewed?
- JUFO check: Is the journal, series, or publisher listed in the JUFO portal?
- Website details: URL, domain, server; use WHOIS to check public domain/IP info.
- Site purpose: What does the publisher say about itself?
- Currency: When was the page last updated? When was the publication printed or posted? Is the information current?
- Citations: Has the publication been cited (e.g., in Google Scholar)?
- Book reviews: Has the book been reviewed in reputable sources?
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