Overview
In today's world of boundless internet and the seemingly endless sources of information that come with it, determining which sources you can trust is a challenge. This also applies to determining which resources are best for your research. One strategy is to identify different factors you can evaluate when deciding whether to use a piece of information, such as the CABLE Method. It's also important to remember that valid information can come in different forms from many source types. There is no "start here first" - instead different sources have different strengths and weaknesses depending on your particular research needs.
Evaluate Based on Your Needs
Evaluate sources within the context of your specific research needs:
- Reflect upon your research needs
- What depth of knowledge is needed?
- Who would have that knowledge?
- How current is the topic?
- Are there any perspectives that would add unique insight to your research?
- Seek the most appropriate source to meet your needs
- Needs may change throughout the course of your research
- No one source is always best!
Do you need...
- A broad introduction to the topic?
- The most up-to-date information?
- An expert opinion?
- A fact or assertion verified?
The answers to these questions will change throughout your research.
CABLE Method
The CABLE Method is one of many tools that can help you determine whether you're using a credible source of information.
Currency
- How recent is the information?
- Based on your topic, is it current enough?
- Do you need historical information to provide context or background?
Authority
- Can you determine who the author/creator is (or which organization produced it)?
- What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, sponsor)?
- Is there evidence that they're experts on the subject? Have they written about similar topics?
- Who is the publisher or sponsor of the website? Are they reputable?
Bias
- What's the intent of the source (to persuade? to inform?, etc.)?
- Is the content primarily facts, claims, or opinions? How do they support the information?
- Do they consider other perspectives?
- Does the author provide references or state where the information came from?
Level
- How relevant is the source to your topic?
- Based on the format and writing style, who is the intended audience?
- Is it appropriate for your purpose and audience?
Exploration
- Where did you find the source? Does that affect the trustworthiness of the source?
- What is the context of the information? Is it part of a larger website or larger resource (such as a book or journal)?
- What are the limitations of the source? Can information be found elsewhere?
- Are there reviews or criticisms of the source? Do other sources mention it?
- If there are website links, where do they lead? Are the links from reputable sources?
