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- Evaluating Sources with ACCORD
FYS 120: Social Media and Democracy
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Karen Olson
Research and Instruction Librarian for Music & Fine Arts
Evaluating Sources with ACCORD
Sometimes your research topic is so new or so specific, it is hard to find scholarly sources for it. For example, if you're researching a film or song that came out last year, there hasn't been enough time to publish a fully peer-reviewed paper on that topic.
In that instance, you may find yourself relying on other kinds of sources: blogs, non-scholarly magazine articles, and so on. When you use these materials, you want to ask yourself: How credible is this source?
Even if the resource hasn't been peer-reviewed, you can look for clues to tell you if the information is reliable. The categories in the ACCORD method help you determine if a source is reliable for your project.
Alt-Text for ACCORD Method Inforgraphic
Evaluate with ACCORD
Agenda
Why was it created?
- to inform?
- to express an opinion?
- to sell something?
Credentials
Who created it?
- a subject expert?
- a professional writer?
- an enthusiast?
Citations
Can you follow the research?
Look for citations, bibliographies, and functional hyperlinks.
Oversight
Who published it?
Academic presses, professional organizations, and reputable news outlets employ peer reviewers and fact-checkers.
Relevance
Is it suitable?
- how does it relate to your project?
- is it written for an appropriate age group?
Date
When was it created?
- can you easily find the creation date?
- is there likely to be more recent research?
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- Last Updated: Sep 3, 2024 10:11 AM
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