Research Skills

What is the most credible source type on the internet?

• An article that was published through a magazine, journal, encyclopedia, etc...
• An anonymously posted comment on a social media site
• A narrative written on a personal blog
• A Wikipedia article on any given topic

What advantage does an officially "published" article have over one that was simply posted online? 

• A published article can make more money
• A published article is always found as a hard copy in an encyclopedia or book
• A published article usually goes through a team of researchers, writers, and editors
• A published article is not associated with Facebook or other social media sites

What do "credentials" mean? 

• The amount of credit you need in order to graduate from high school
• The education, experience, and expertise of an author or source 
• When you have an awesome mic drop that deserves some serious street credit
• The type of website domain that lets you know if a source is trustworthy

Which of the following would NOT be important information to decide if an author has valid credentials? 

• The educational background of the author (where did they go to school and what degrees did they get?)
• The work experience of the author (have they worked in the field which they are writing about?)
• The credit history of the author (can they be trusted with finances and other important life decisions?)
• Their publishing history (have they ever published in a well-respected journal, magazine, newspaper, book, website, etc...)

Which of the following would be a big red flag that an author is not a trustworthy source? 

• The author's full name and credentials are not given
• The author is associated with a political party which you do not agree with
• An author's name was not given because the piece was published by a team of editors
• The author uses initials in their name instead of spelling everything out

What is another name for a "bibliography?" 

• Works Cited Page
• List of Books
• All the Sources Used
• Bibliophile

What can you assume about a source if an extensive list of references or sources is provided at the end of an article in a bibliography or works cited page? 

• The author spends way too much time working and needs a better personal life
• The author researched and cited appropriately, making their information more accurate and valid
• The author does not feel confident in their own opinion because they refer to other sources too much
• The source would not be appropriate to cite from, but you could borrow their sources and references

What is the definition of bias? 

• An author or source can see two sides to an argument and is fair to both
• An author or source does not take a stand on a topic and is too wishy-washy
• An author or source does not have the valid credentials that would make them an expert on the topic
• An author or source is prejudiced or close-minded by only seeing one side to an argument for personal reasons

What flaw or problem is an article revealing if it ignores the opposite point of view for personal gain (like making money or recruiting followers?) 

• Accuracy
• Stupidity
• Bias
• Validity

What is the definition of plagiarism? 

• Using quotes from other sources that are correctly cited
• Taking credit for writing or ideas that are not your own
• Borrowing lunch money from your friend with no intention of paying them back
• Copying answers off of your neighbor's test