Determining Trustworthy Source Information

Read this short summary about primary versus secondary sources: https://libguides.furman.edu/special-collections/for-students/primary-secondary-sources
Watch the following video (/watch?v=Wpjr35uNnWE&t=24s)
To begin, access the following news article: /news-stop-aging-tips-science/
1 Before reading the article, complete the following table. When multiple answers are shown, you can circle, highlight, or bold the correct answers, or you can cross out or delete the incorrect answers.
Article Title

Ways to Reverse Aging Now, Says Science

Date published or last updated

September 20, 2021

Is this date recent enough for your topic? Explain.

The date is recent enough since the article is less than two years old. Moreover, new research on slowing the aging process has been slow coming.

Publisher or sponsor

Eat This, Not That!

Is the publisher/sponsor trustworthy? What are their basic values?

It is difficult to establish the publisher’s trustworthiness before reading the article.
However research shows that the publisher has provided many Americans with credible practical education on nutrition and healthy lifestyles for many years (Bock et al.; Lara-Breitinger et al.).

For online articles, consider these:
What domain does the URL use?

Generally trustworthy:
.gov .edu

Can be owned by anyone:.com .net .org

Does the site’s name match the URL?

Yes No

Are ads on the website (if any) clearly marked?

Yes No

2 Read the article, then complete the next table:
Briefly describe the main idea(s) of the article. Include supporting details.

The article’s content revolves around reversing the aging process by keeping a healthy lifestyle. Specifically, the article is a mosaic of various strategies people can incorporate into their lifestyles to slow aging. These strategies include diet, exercise, sleep, and relaxation. According to Martin, weight lifting (for instance) can reverse bone density loss which comes with aging. Additionally, one can slow or reverse aging by reducing the quantity of sugary foods one consumes, while getting enough sleep can help rejuvenate and repair critical physiological systems.

Author of the article

Michael Martin

What are the author’s credentials/qualifications?

The publisher does not provide a comprehensive bio for the author. It only states that he is an editor and writer based in New York City.

What is the author trying to do?

Inform
Persuade
Present an opinion
Sell something
Entertain

What affiliations or conflicts of interest are mentioned?

There are no mentioned conflicts of interest.

Does the author seem objective (uses facts, not opinions)? Explain.

Yes No

Does the author give references for data or quotations?

The author gives credible references for all his arguments, data, and quotations.

3 Complete the “Criteria for Evaluating Sources” table below, which has more information to help you decide if your article is trustworthy.
Question

Yes/No

Tips

Currency: The timeliness of the information

Was the information published or updated recently?

Yes

For a news article, check the date it was published. For a website, check the copyright date or “last updated” date.

Is the information recent enough for your topic?

Yes

For topics like current events or new research, it’s important to use up-to-date sources. For other topics, like history, older sources may also work.

If using a website, do the links work?

Yes

A website with broken links might be outdated.

Reliability: The accuracy and truthfulness of the information

Is the information supported by evidence like data or quotes? Are there references for the evidence?

Yes

If the source references a research study, try to find out more about the study. Make sure the study was valid and represented accurately.

Does the source make reasonable claims about what the evidence shows?

Yes

Some sources may overgeneralize the results of a study. Check where the study was done, how many individuals it tested, if it used humans or animals, etc. If the study used animals, for example, its results may not apply to humans.

Has the information (or its references) been reviewed?

Yes

Be wary of information from a study that was not published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Can you confirm the information using another source or your own knowledge?

Yes

Trust your judgment and be wary of claims that have been shown to be false by a trustworthy source, such as an educational or government website.

Does the language or tone seem unbiased and professional?

Yes

Avoid sources that use opinionated or biased language, or are poorly written with spelling and grammar errors.

Authority: The source of the information

Is the author, publisher, or sponsor of the information a trustworthy source, such as an educational or government...