Work according to the following checklist:
- Authority: Is the source credible? Was it written by experts in the field?
- Value: Does the source seek to advance the knowledge or education of its users?
- Purpose: What is the purpose of the source? Is it intended to educate its users, or to sell products?
- Originality: Does the source contain original viewpoints and content, or does it paraphrase other sources? (The original message can get ‘lost in translation’ if it has already been sourced. It is always best to use the original source.)
- Quality: Is the source highly regarded in its field of expertise?
A valuable tool for determining if a source is credible is the Source Educational Evaluation Worksheet (SEER). When used correctly, it allows you to evaluate and rate the credibility of a particular source by multiple components.
To find out more information and download the the SEER rubric, go to: https://go.turnitin.com/seer-rubric
By rating the source on each of the aspects and dividing by 5, you can compare the resultant number against a scale that informs you about the credibility of the source. If it scores less than 2.0, it should be disregarded completely and acknowledged as a discreditable source.
Ideally, you should be looking for a peer-reviewed, credible source that is unbiased.
Examples of this can include:
- Google Scholar
- A professional in the field, e.g. veterinarian, qualified veterinary nurse, specialist
- The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- The New Zealand Veterinary Journal
- Credible, high-quality textbooks, such as Lumb & Jones’ Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.