1.
When is Wikipedia a valid source for research?
Correct Answer
A. Wikipedia is never a valid source.
Explanation
Well-written and well-researched articles with references are generally good indications of a reputable source. However, since anyone can edit Wikipedia articles, these articles are never a valid sources.
2.
Which answer below is NOT a criterion for deciding if a website is reputable and should be used?
Correct Answer
A. The website includes several links to other reputable websites.
Explanation
A website that links to other reputable websites doesn't mean that the information on its site is reputable.
3.
Which of the websites below BEST illustrates bias? You can open each website in a separate tab to answer this question.
Correct Answer
A. Greenpeace.org
Explanation
Greenpeace would be considered the most biased since the organization has an obvious position on environmental issues.
4.
Which website below would you be LEAST likely to use for academic research?
Correct Answer
A. Personal blog.
Explanation
While personal blogs can be interesting to read, usually the author is providing his own insight on a topic, which is probably biased.
5.
Which website would you NOT use for research?
Correct Answer
A. A website with extensive references but no author listed.
Explanation
If there is no author listed (and remember that an author can be a person or an organization), you should not use the information.
6.
Which of the choices is the BEST way to evaluate a website's content?
Correct Answer
A. References are listed, along with links to supporting information.
Explanation
The best way to evaluate a website is to see that there are references listed with links to supporting information. While date is also a good indication, if there are no references for the information, you can't find out where the author got the information. Also, the design has no bearing on the accuracy of the information.
7.
Which are the criteria for deciding if the page's author is credible?
Correct Answer
A. Author has academic credentials supporting the article.
Explanation
If an author has academic credentials that support the subject of the article, this is the best way to decide if the article is reputable. Pages with .com domain extensions can be created by anyone and may not be credible. Lastly, an innovative idea is not necessarily a factual one.
8.
Which of the following choices is an example of currency of information?
Correct Answer
A. The publishing date is this year.
Explanation
If the publishing date is current, the information is considered current. If the publishing date is missing, then we don't know when the information was written and we may not want to use it. Lastly, links to current information do not indicate that the information on the original page is current.
9.
If a website's content is written in a way that is dense and complex, then the website's content...
Correct Answer
A. Can still be questionable based on other ways to test the website.
Explanation
Even if the information is written in a complex way and difficult to understand, it doesn't mean the information is questionable. Academic articles are generally written for people who are professionals in that field or who are studying that subject area. You still need to test the information by looking at other criteria, such as using the CRAAP test, mentioned in the tutorial.
10.
What is one way you can tell if an article on a website is academic?
Correct Answer
A. The author has the appropriate credentials.
Explanation
The authors of reputable academic articles will have credentials that show they have the educational background to write about the topic. The length of an article and how well it is written do not mean that an article is academic, nor does the fact that the author has written other articles.