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Finding scientific information

Source criticism


Source criticism refers to the evaluation of an information source and its relevance or reliability. It is important in all information-seeking processes that involve a variety of sources. The aim of source criticism is to identify credible and trustworthy sources, typically published materials.

When evaluating sources, particularly online materials and those found with the help of artificial intelligence, it is important to consider the following factors:

  • the reliability and accuracy of the information
  • the availability and long-term accessibility of the document
  • its timeliness and objectivity
  • issues related to copyright and intellectual property

Supporting questions for evaluating sources

  • What is the nature of the claim? Is it serious, satirical, sarcastic, trolling, or just a joke?
  • What is the purpose of the text? Who stands to benefit financially, politically, through followers or clicks?
  • What is the intended audience? Is the material aimed at a like-minded group, the general public, or the scientific community?
  • What is the level of objectivity? Is the information factual or opinion-based?
  • What is the basis for the information presented? Does it rely on a survey, the author's personal views, or individual experiences?
  • What is the original source of the information? Use the publication where the topic was first reported.
  • What steps have been taken to verify statistical data? Fact-checking is especially important in these cases.
  • What is the scope of coverage? Are multiple perspectives included?
  • What kind of reasoning supports the claims? Are sources cited, and do the arguments actually support the claims?
  • What references are provided? What types of sources are used, and how recent are they?
  • What research exists on the topic? Is the same information found in multiple independent sources? Can it be compared with other publications in the same field?
  • What is the quality of the publication’s structure and language? Is scientific terminology used appropriately?
  • What format does the publication follow? Does it use the IMRD structure: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion?
  • Who is the author, and what is their background and expertise? Consider their academic qualifications, education, professional roles, work experience, publications, memberships, affiliations, and sources of funding.
  • Who is the author affiliated with? What is the mission, values, and goals of the organization? Is it national or international in scope?
  • Who is the author within the scientific community? What is their reputation based on citations, mentions in textbooks or lectures, scientific awards, and research funding?
  • Who is behind the publication, and what are their motives? What is the author trying to achieve? Are there ideological, political, or commercial interests involved?
  • Who produced the information? Was it created by a recognized agency, organization, or expert? Contact details may help reveal who the author is and what their background entails.
  • Where was the text published? Is it on a website, in a newspaper, a local paper, a magazine, or a peer-reviewed scientific journal?
  • Who is the publisher or sponsor of the publication?
  • Is the publication peer-reviewed?
  • Is the journal, series, or book publisher listed in the Finnish Publication Forum (JUFO)?
  • What is the website’s URL, domain, and server location? The Whois service can be used to find public information about any domain or IP address.
  • What is the underlying purpose of the website? What does the publisher say about themselves?
  • Has the publication been cited, for example, in Google Scholar?
  • Has the book been reviewed? Can you find a review in a magazine, journal, or other publication?
  • When was the source published? Does it include information about the publication date?
  • When was the source last updated? Is the update date clearly mentioned?
  • Is the information outdated? Are you looking at the most recent version of the publication?
  • What is a suitable time frame for your topic? In historical research, the time span may be long. If you're studying a current phenomenon, you’ll likely want the most up-to-date information available.

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