12.5.2023
No one likes to learn that there may be errors or falsehoods in their religions, traditions, churches, or personal beliefs. We should find ways to determine the accuracy of our research, use those that we trust, and seek to understand what religions teach or believe to accurately discuss or write concerning those subjects.
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An article How to Identify Reliable Information, addresses this topic:
https://www.stevenson.edu/online/about-us/news/how-to-identify-reliable-information/
“Whether you are a journalist, researcher writer or someone in the professional fields, it is important to know how to identify real information and use it accurately. That is our real challenge in the 21st century – Lee E Krahenbuhl, Communication Studies Program Coordinator
With the infinite amount of information online, it can be difficult to decipher what is true and accurate and what is not. Once you know the trick to identifying reliable information, you can quickly determine if what you are reading is accurate or not.
What is reliable information?
Reliable information must come from dependable sources. According to UGA Libraries, a reliable source will provide a “thorough, well-reasoned theory, argument, based on strong evidence.”
Widely credible sources include:
- Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles and books
- Trade or professional articles or books, magazine articles, books, and newspaper articles from well-established companies
- Other sources like websites and blog posts can be dependable but require further evaluation.
You may be asking yourself, “what source is best for me?” Depending on the type of information you need, your sources may vary. Look at journal articles and research-based reports. This is because those types of sources typically include more information on the topic at hand.
How to identify reliable sources
What makes the source reliable?
To determine whether a source is reliable or not, you must look at certain criteria. That criteria are as follows:
Authority:
- Who is the author?
- What are their credentials?
- Do they have knowledgeable experience in the field
- What is their reputation?
Accuracy: Compare the author’s information to that which you already know is dependable.
- Are there proper citations?
- Is the information biased?
- If so, does it affect research conclusions?
Coverage: Is the information relevant to your topic and does it meet your needs? Consider what you need such as statistics, charts, and graphs.
Currency: Is your topic constantly evolving? Topics in the news require sources that are up to date.
The importance of reliable information
The Internet is scattered with biased, misleading, and altogether incorrect information and that is why it is important to follow the above criteria. The importance of using reliable sources truly boils down to effective communication. If your knowledge is based on unreliable information, you will not be a trustworthy asset.
Credible communication is key in discussing a subject. That is why you should not just grab any information off the Internet. Using unreliable sources results in negative consequences.
Credibility is especially important because using unreliable data can cause questions that may undermine your reliability and may cause others to rely solely on their own opinions rather than factual data.
Using credible sources for information will increase your reputation and trustworthiness. An article by the Ivy Business Journal supports this idea by expressing that trust is a key factor in building loyalty, increasing credibility, and supporting effective communication. It is important to develop your skills in identifying reliable resources, because it will help you become an effective communicator, reader, and/or writer.
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