Criteria and vocabulary for evaluating source credibility, bias, and relevance in AP Seminar research. Front: the term or criterion. Back: a plain-language definition.
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- Authority
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The credibility and expertise of a source's author or organization based on their qualifications, background, and track record.- Bias
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A systematic leaning toward a particular viewpoint or perspective that may cause a source to omit, exaggerate, or distort information.- Relevance
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The degree to which a source's content directly addresses or relates to your research question or argument.- Currency
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How recent a source is and whether that recency matters for your topic, since information ages differently across disciplines.- Accuracy
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The factual correctness of a source's claims, verifiable through checking citations, facts, and cross-referencing with other reliable sources.- Primary source
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An original document, record, or artifact created at the time of the events being studied, such as a diary, letter, photograph, or original research data.- Secondary source
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A work that analyzes, interprets, or comments on primary sources, written after the events described, such as a history book or journal article.- Tertiary source
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A source that compiles and summarizes information from primary and secondary sources, such as an encyclopedia or textbook overview.- Peer review
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The process where experts in a field evaluate a work for accuracy and quality before it is published, providing a quality assurance layer.- Scholarly source
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A work produced by academics or experts, usually peer-reviewed and published in academic journals or university presses, with cited evidence.- Popular source
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A work written for a general audience without peer review, such as news articles, magazines, and websites, often prioritizing accessibility over technical depth.- Conflict of interest
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A situation where a source's author or sponsor has a financial, political, or personal stake in the outcomes or conclusions of their work.- Sponsorship
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Funding or support for a source's creation by an organization or entity, which may influence the conclusions or which aspects of a topic receive emphasis.- Ad hominem fallacy
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An argument that attacks the person making a claim rather than addressing the actual evidence or logic of the claim itself.- Cherry picking
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Selecting only evidence that supports your conclusion while ignoring contradictory evidence, creating a misleading incomplete picture.
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