Students should follow the steps in Finding, Evaluating, and Utilizing Information to complete a general search for reliable sources: (1) What is the purpose and affiliation of the organization or author related to the article? (2) What are the author’s credentials? (3) Is the information current? (4) When was the information last updated? (5) Does the information cross-reference well with other sources? (6) Does the source contain bias without evidence to back up the claims? (7) Was the academic article peer reviewed?
Student responses must focus on completing Appendix D by using APA guidelines to document five to eight sources (three from the University Library), by determining whether or not each source is credible, and then by explaining what information the student hopes to glean from the sources.
Note: Examples of APA documentation for a variety of resources are available at the Center for Writing Excellence at
Your instructions are very clear so you should have no problem with this assignment.
Once you have written it up, please repost if you'd like someone here to comment on your ideas.
To complete a general search for reliable sources, students should follow the steps in Finding, Evaluating, and Utilizing Information:
1. Start by checking the purpose and affiliation of the organization or author related to the article. Look for information about the organization or author to understand their background, expertise, and potential biases. This can help determine if the source is reliable and credible.
2. Next, evaluate the author's credentials. Consider their qualifications, education, and experience in the subject matter. This will help assess their expertise and credibility as an author.
3. Check the information's currency. Determine if the information is up-to-date and relevant to your research needs. Current information is generally preferred, especially for topics that may have rapidly changing developments.
4. Find out when the information was last updated. This is important to ensure that you are using the most recent and accurate information available. Outdated information may no longer be relevant or may have been superseded by new research or data.
5. Cross-reference the information with other sources. Look for consistency and corroboration from multiple sources. If multiple reliable sources agree on a particular point, it adds credibility to that information.
6. Assess if there is any bias in the source without any evidence to back up the claims. Bias can undermine the objectivity and reliability of information. Look for evidence-based claims and arguments rather than unsupported opinions or biased viewpoints.
7. Determine if the academic article was peer-reviewed. Peer-reviewed articles undergo a rigorous evaluation process by experts in the field. This process ensures the quality and reliability of the research. Peer-reviewed articles are generally regarded as more credible sources.
To complete Appendix D using APA guidelines, students need to document five to eight sources, with at least three from the University Library. For each source, they should determine if the source is credible based on the steps mentioned above. Additionally, they should explain what information they hope to glean from each source in terms of relevance to their research topic and the specific aspects they plan to explore. The Center for Writing Excellence may provide examples of APA documentation for various resources to refer to when documenting sources.