ASK US

To research the accuracy of an article from the databases that says drinking 6 cups of a coffee a day will make one smarter, you might want to verify that claim before going on a coffee-binge.

Here are some ways to research the accuracy of information in an article:

1. Determine who is the author of that information. Does he/she have a degree in that field of study? 
2. If the author is not the person who researched the information, then there should be a Reference at the end of the article for where the information came from originally. Find the original article. Who is that author? Is that person an expert?
3. Once you establish if the author is an expert in the field, then closely examine the finding. What does the data say? How did the author reach his/her conclusion? Is there a flaw in the logic? Is the argument sound? Is the argument biased? Is the argument based on facts or opinions? What is the author trying to accomplish with the argument? 
4. Pay attention to who is publishing the information. Is it published by a scholarly journal? Is it from a website that could have biased articles? Is it from an online satire account? 
5. The publication date of the article is important. If the information is 10 years old, look for newer research in the field, as new information may have altered this article's finding. 

If you can reasonably verify that:

• The author is an expert in the field of study.
• The article is based on sound facts and not opinions or conjectures.
• The article was published in a reputable publication.
• Then you can be reasonably sure that it is a credible source.

The next step is to see if this data agrees with other data published in that field on the topic. 

1. When further researching the topic and/or field of study, first use the article's references and read those. (Remember to evaluate each source as above.) If you tracked down an original study, also use the references from that original study.
2. Once you have read that research, you can get an idea of how the topic is being discussed in the field. Try searches using the Library Resources to see if there are any newer findings or findings that disagree with the author. 

After verifying the credibility and authority of the article, and then checking it against other sources, you can be reasonably sure whether or not the information in the article is accurate. 

Thank you for using ASK US. For further assistance, please contact your Baker librarians.