When you write a paper, you’re usually required to include a works cited or bibliography page, which lists all the sources you used. The sources you used should include a works cited or bibliography page too. This helps you see where they got their information. If they can back up their information with other sources, this lends credibility to the source.
Examine the credentials of the author to figure out the source’s credibility. Is the author of the essay on the Revolutionary War a high school student or a professor of history with a PhD that’s been teaching and conducting research for 20 years? Your sources should have a clear “About the Author” section that details the author’s credentials. The more research, education and publishing history the author has, the more credible he is as a source.
Websites with a .edu or .gov domain name are more credible than personal blogs or websites. Not just anyone can create a .edu or .gov website, meaning people who write for these websites are more credible sources. Websites where users submit information, such as Wikipedia, are prone to have more mistakes and are considered less credible. As with books, verify the credentials of authors on any website, as well as how they back up their claims with other sources.
Credibility is about trust. A brand-new website or publisher may be hard to trust at first. In contrast, the "New York Times" has a long publication history, so it’s more likely to be credible. Consider the history of the publication and the author when considering whether or not it is credible. A publisher that publishes academic texts and has done so for 50 years is more credible than a new publisher that allows anyone to self-publish whatever he chooses.
A source that is trying to get you to buy something is not always reliable. It may skew information to motivate you to buy its TV, shampoo or book. Credible sources simply present information or opinions and back up their claims with evidence. When considering the credibility of a source, question the intention of the source: Is it to inform and educate or to get something from you, such as money? However, just because a source isn't trying to sell you something doesn't make it credible.
Using bad sources can lower your grade on a research paper. If you’re unsure about a source’s credibility, consult your teacher to determine whether the source is acceptable. A source’s credibility is often decided on a case-by-case basis. Talking to the teacher lowers the likelihood of you using a non-credible source that could lower the quality of your paper and its grade.