Not all information is equal
We are surrounded by information: textbooks, websites, videos, social media, ads and news. Some sources are accurate and fair; others are misleading, outdated or biased. Evaluating sources is a key skill in social studies, and in life.
Primary and secondary sources
- A primary source was created at the time by someone involved: a diary, a photograph, a treaty, a speech, an interview, an artifact.
- A secondary source was created later by someone analyzing primary sources: a textbook, a documentary, a history book.
Both are useful, and both must be evaluated.
Evaluating credibility
Credibility means how trustworthy a source is. Use questions like these:
| Question | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Who created it? | Is the author an expert? Are they identified? What organization is behind it? |
| What is its purpose? | to inform, persuade, entertain or sell? |
| When was it created? | Is it current? For history, was it made at the time? |
| Where was it published? | a reputable publisher, news organization, government or university site? |
| How does it support claims? | Does it cite evidence and sources? |
| Is it confirmed? | Do other independent sources agree? |
Checking whether other independent sources confirm information is called corroboration.
The CRAAP test
A popular checklist:
- Currency: Is it up to date?
- Relevance: Does it fit your question?
- Authority: Who is the author, and are they qualified?
- Accuracy: Is it supported by evidence? Can it be verified?
- Purpose: Why does it exist? Is there bias?
Understanding bias
Bias is a one-sided preference that affects how information is presented. Everyone has some bias, and recognizing it is the key.
Signs of bias
- loaded language: emotional words like "disaster," "heroic" or "outrageous"
- one-sided evidence: only facts that support one view
- omission: leaving out important information or voices
- stereotypes or generalizations
- selection of images: choosing photos that create a certain impression
- placement: what appears first or gets the most space
Example:
- "Protesters disrupted downtown traffic for hours."
- "Hundreds marched peacefully to demand action."
Both may describe the same event, but the word choices shape how readers feel.
Perspective
Perspective is the point of view from which someone describes something. It’s shaped by their identity, experiences, culture and interests.
Example: the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway
| Perspective | Possible view |
|---|---|
| Government in Ottawa | a triumph that united the country |
| Chinese railway worker | dangerous, underpaid work followed by a head tax |
| Plains First Nations | a project that brought settlers onto their lands and broke promises |
| Prairie settler | an opportunity to farm and ship grain |
Considering multiple perspectives gives a fuller, fairer picture. Historians also ask whose perspectives are missing from the sources.
Evaluating online sources
- Check the URL and the "About" page.
- Search for the author or organization elsewhere.
- Be cautious with sites that have lots of ads, sensational headlines or no named authors.
- Use lateral reading: open new tabs to see what other sources say about the site and its claims.
- Remember that Wikipedia can be a starting point, but follow its citations to original sources.
Try it yourself
- Apply the CRAAP test to two websites about the same topic. Which is more credible?
- Find two news articles about the same event. Identify loaded language and differences in perspective.
- Choose a historical event and describe it from three perspectives.
- Corroborate a claim you see online using at least two independent sources.
Quick recap
- Sources include primary and secondary sources, and all need evaluation.
- Credibility depends on the author, purpose, date, publisher and evidence.
- Bias shows through loaded language, omission and one-sided evidence.
- Perspective shapes how people describe events.
- Corroboration and lateral reading help confirm information.