Purpose & Objectivity
Evaluating a source by purpose & objectivity means that you are asking:Is there bias or a slant given to the information provided?
When considering the purpose & objectivity of a source, ask yourself the following questions:
- What point of view does the author represent? Is the source arguing for or against something? Does the source contain mostly factual information or is it opinion-based?
- Is the source associated with an organization or institution that is known for promoting a certain point of view or opinion?
- What appears to be the purpose of the information provided -- to inform, teach, sell, entertain, provide public services, or persuade?
Where should you look to determine the purpose & objectivity of a source?
Print & Database Sources
- Read the abstract, summary, or table of contents for the source
- Scan the full text of the source - look for facts, statistics, advertisem*nts, etc.
- Examine or look up the author's and publisher's affiliations
- Examine or look up other works written or published by the author/publisher
Websites
- Read the abstract, summary, or table of contents for the source (if available)
- Scan the full text of the source - look for facts, statistics, advertisem*nts, etc.
- Examine or look up website's or author's affiliations
- Examine or look up other works written or published by the author/website
- Examine the domain extension (i.e. .com, .edu)
What to avoid
- Sources that are primarily opinion-based, with few facts or statistics (unless seeking biased sources)
- Sources that are primarily concerned with selling a product (unless seeking biased sources)
- Sources with affiliations known for promoting a certain viewpoint (unless seeking biased sources)
Note: It's okay to use information from sources that contain strong arguments or opinions, but it's always a good idea to acknowledge the author's view.
| Examples | Questions To Ask |
|---|---|
| BeefNutrition.org |
|
| Beyond Meat |
|
| Monsanto - Biotechnology |
|
