A student is researching "performance enhancement equipment in competitive sports." Which source is most likely to be trustworthy?(1 point)
Responses
a survey of eight professional athletic organizations
a survey of eight professional athletic organizations
the opinions of nine basketball players
the opinions of nine basketball players
the opinions of five baseball coaches
the opinions of five baseball coaches
a survey of six physical education teachers
a survey of six physical education teachers
When looking for trustworthy sources in an academic context, peer-reviewed articles, expert interviews, and large-scale studies conducted by reputable organizations are generally considered reliable. However, you have provided four options that seem to be surveys and opinions. Surveys can be more reliable if they are comprehensive and conducted by reputable organizations, whereas opinions, although insightful, may be subjective and less representative of a broader perspective.
Given the options, "a survey of eight professional athletic organizations" could be the most trustworthy source if those organizations are credible, and the survey methodology is robust. Such organizations might have access to data and expert insights about the performance enhancement equipment used in competitive sports. It's important to note that even with surveys, the size of the sample, the questions asked, and the methodology used are crucial factors in determining the reliability of the information.
However, it is essential to critically evaluate the survey's design, including the number of responses, the type of questions asked, how the data was collected, and any potential biases that may affect the results. Larger, more rigorous surveys would generally provide more reliable data.
In academic research, the results from a well-conducted survey are typically considered stronger evidence than anecdotal opinions from a selection of individuals (basketball players, baseball coaches, or PE teachers), especially if the sample size is small and not representative of the larger population.