Finding a reliable source for an essay or a dissertation can be difficult and with multiple, unreliable sources available to view online, it’s becoming more crucial than ever to ensure that you are taking your time to obtain the information you need. Here, we’re taking a closer look at how you can identify whether or not a source is reliable from the date it was published to the reputation of the site.
Reputation
When looking for a reliable resource, it’s important to look at the reputation of the site or the company that has provided this information. A good example of this is Wikipedia. Even though Wikipedia can be incredibly helpful at times, it does have an unreliable reputation. This is because users from across the globe are able to log in and amend the information, affecting the accuracy of the copy on the page. However, with publications such as The Ancient History Encyclopaedia, you can rest assured that all the information about ancient history is obtained from a credible source. You can be sure of this because the publication has been recommended by a number of large educational institutions include the likes of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Oxford University and MERLOT.
Date Published
It’s also important to look at the date the blog or article was published, as this can have a profound effect on the credibility of the information. While articles published a few months ago may not set your alarm bells ringing, they should. In a world that is ever-changing, data changes on a daily basis and so you can never be too sure about what you read. As a result, it’s important to find a relatively new blog or article to extract the information you require from. This can help ensure that your piece is as accurate as possible. Essentially, the more up-to-date the resource is, the more reliable it is likely to be.
Bias
Depending on where you are sourcing your information, it’s important to be aware of any potential bias that may be present in the content. If the information seems very one-sided towards a particular figure or aspect, then it may be beneficial to reference it as a bias source and search for a resource that is far more impartial. Not only will this allow you to showcase awareness of the resources that you have found, but it also proves that you are reading the information carefully and have the ability to form your own decisions.
Use Multiple Resources
When looking for resources that are reliable, it’s important to ensure that you use multiple sources in order to get a well-rounded and unbiased view of the topic that you are researching. Not only will this provide you with a better understanding of the chosen topic, but it can help ensure that you have all the information you need in order to get started. The credibility of the source is the most crucial aspect of getting the most accurate information possible and even though finding a credible source can be a time-consuming process, it will certainly benefit you and your grade in the long term.
With all this in mind, the credibility of a source is something that should never be compromised, regardless of how restricted for time you may be. Happy searching!
