Guides: What are credible sources?: Websites (2024)

FAQs

What are credible sources? ›

A credible or reliable source is one where you can trust the information that the source provides. You can rely on the information provided within the source because the person, publisher, or institution that is providing this information is a credible source for that information.

Look at the three letters at the end of the site's domain name, such as “edu” (educational), “gov” (government), “org” (nonprofit), and “com” (commercial). Generally, . edu and . gov websites are credible, but beware of sites that use these suffixes in an attempt to mislead.

A credible source is free from bias and backed up with evidence. It is written by a trustworthy author or organization. There are a lot of sources out there, and it can be hard to tell what's credible and what isn't at first glance. Evaluating source credibility is an important information literacy skill.

Credible source. Published, found through an online scholarly database, accessed through a county library, peer-reviewed and scholarly, written by expert.

Look for appropriate citations to back up large claims. Additionally, credible sources often include the author's name and credentials to establish their expertise. Pay attention to when the article was written, and the dates of the sources used.

Government websites

gov, . edu, . ac, are generally considered credible sources.

Research articles without citations. Materials published over 15 years ago or have theories that are out of date. Individual or business websites. Materials that are published by an entity that may have an ulterior motive.

It is important to be able to identify which sources are credible. This ability requires an understanding of depth, objectivity, currency, authority, and purpose. Whether or not your source is peer-reviewed, it is still a good idea to evaluate it based on these five factors.

Where can I find credible articles? ›

In general, a source is typically considered a credible source if it provides relevant information written by a trustworthy, respected expert in the field that is free of bias and is supported by strong evidence.

The definition of a credible source can change depending on the discipline, but in general, for academic writing, a credible source is one that is unbiased and is backed up with evidence.

A reliable source is one that provides a thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, discussion, etc. based on strong evidence. Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles or books -written by researchers for students and researchers. Original research, extensive bibliography.

Common examples of primary sources include interview transcripts, photographs, novels, paintings, films, historical documents, and official statistics. Anything you directly analyze or use as first-hand evidence can be a primary source, including qualitative or quantitative data that you collected yourself.

It is important to be able to identify which sources are credible. This ability requires an understanding of depth, objectivity, currency, authority, and purpose. Whether or not your source is peer-reviewed, it is still a good idea to evaluate it based on these five factors.

Websites with these domains (the URL ending) generally have reliable information: . org (a registered organisation)

Examples from Collins dictionaries

Her claims seem credible to many. To maintain a credible threat of intervention, we have to maintain a credible alliance. Mr Robertson would be a credible candidate. The challenge before the opposition is to offer credible alternative policies for the future.