Evaluating Sources: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th Edition)

TOPIC OF BLOG:-

This blog is about a little guidance and points about how to Evaluate Sources which scholars use for their Research. All the points are from the book named 'MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers'. This blog is given by Vaidehi Hariyani, teacher of Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar. The chapters of this book is divided into several parts between the classmates and in my part the chapter name 'Evaluating Sources' falls which I am try to summaries it according to my understanding.

All researchers, including students and professional scholars, must carefully assess the quality of any work before using or citing it. Evaluating sources is particularly challenging for students writing their initial research papers. Not all sources are equally reliable, and assumptions should not be made about their truthfulness based solely on their appearance in print or online. Material may be outdated, inaccurate, or biased, and authors may have limited knowledge or a skewed perspective. It's crucial to weigh the information against your own understanding and consider the authority, accuracy, and currency of the sources. If uncertain, seek assistance from your instructor or a librarian.

Let's discuss some of the ways from which we ca understand how it works.

1. Authority
• Peer Review
• Internet Sources
• What to look for
• Author
• Text
• Editorial Policy
• Publisher or Sponsoring Organization
2. Accuracy and Verifiability
3. Currency

Let us discuss it in details.

AUTHORITY:-

PEER REVIEW:-

Scholarly journals and academic book publishers often use a process called "peer review." In peer review, they ask experts, called referees, to check a manuscript before deciding to publish it. These referees write reports giving their opinions and recommendations. They look at things like how important the topic is, how original and valid the argument is, if the facts are accurate, and how up-to-date the research is. Additionally, many journals and publishers have a group called an editorial board that reviews the manuscript and considers the feedback from the referees before deciding whether to publish it. This careful examination ensures that a manuscript goes through a thorough evaluation before being accepted for publication.

INTERNET SOURCES:-

Evaluating internet resources poses a unique challenge. Unlike traditional print publications, which are typically released by reputable publishers such as university presses that vouch for the quality and reliability of their works, many electronic publications lack comparable authority. While some online materials undergo peer review, a significant number do not. Internet publications can be self-published without external review, making it crucial for users to exercise caution and critically assess the credibility and reliability of the information they encounter online.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:-

If we want to evaluate any source whether it is print or online, we have to keep following aspects in mind. 

This example may help to understand how to apply this aspects to particular websites. Let's explore this in little detail.

• General Editors: Neil Fraistat, Steven E. Jones, and Carl Stahmer - The editors responsible for the Web site are identified on the opening page. The names are links leading to information about the editors' credentials.
• Romantic Circles is a refereed scholarly Website devoted to the study of Romantic-period literature and culture. It is published by the University of  Maryland and supported, in part, by the Maryland Institute for Technology , In the Humanities (MITH), and the English Departments of Loyola L University of Chicago and the University of Maryland. Find Out More. - This lines referring about Reputable Organization sponsor the site.
• Advisory Board - Experts advise the editors on the site's contents.
• Editorial Policy - The editorial policy describes how material is carefully evaluated before being published.
• Robert Mitchell - The contributors are clearly identified. 
• Robert Mitchell, Duke University & Article Abstract, About the Author, Search Volume - Information about contributors' credential is provided. 

Author:-

When you read a book or article, you usually see the author's name right away. It's important to know who wrote what you're reading, whether it's a printed book or something online. Check if the author's name or the group responsible for publishing the material is clearly mentioned.

Once you know who the author is, check if they know a lot about the topic. Sometimes, the publication might share details about the author, like their job title or other achievements. On the internet, you can find this information by clicking on a link to the author's homepage or a page that tells you more about the people running the website. You can also search online to learn more about the author.

For example, if you're looking at a book, you could check resources like Book Review Index and Book Review Digest to see what experts say about this book and others written by the same author. This helps you make sure the information comes from someone knowledgeable and reliable.

Text:-

If you're dealing with old documents or literary texts that have different versions, it's important to use reliable editions. For instance, the versions of Shakespeare's plays printed while he was alive or right after he passed away can be quite different. Modern scholars work to compare and analyze these versions, creating editions that are as historically accurate as possible.

So, if you're using an electronic version of a Shakespeare play, make sure it clearly says who edited the text and when the electronic edition was made. It should also mention the printed source it used for the electronic version. This way, you can trust that the information is accurate and trustworthy.

Editorial Policy:-

When you're using a book or website, pay attention to the whole thing, even if you're only interested in one part of it. For example, if you're on a website or reading a journal, see if there's a statement that tells you why the site or journal exists. Look for signs that the document you're reading was checked by experts, like if there's a list of people on an editorial board. This helps you understand the overall goal of the source and ensures that the specific document you're interested in went through a thorough review.

Publisher or Sponsoring Organization:-

Just like you find the name of the person who wrote something, you can usually find the name of the company or group that published a book. Similarly, for websites, it's important to see who published or supports the site. Look for this information, often found under "About the Project" or something similar. 

You can also get a clue about the type of organization by looking at the end of the website's address. For instance, if it ends in .com, it might be a business, if it's .edu, it's probably related to education, .gov means it's a government site, and .org often indicates a nonprofit organization. 

However, just because a site ends in .edu doesn't guarantee it's always reliable. Educational sites can have both trustworthy scholarly projects and personal pages without supervision. Still, knowing the organization can give you a hint about how useful or reliable the information might be. For example, many .com sites give helpful information, but some might just be advertisements, like a book company praising its own books.

ACCURACY AND VERIFIABILTY:-

When you're looking at scholarly stuff, make sure it shows where it got its information from. Usually, you can find this in a list called "works cited." This list can give you an idea of how much the author knows about the topic and if there's any possible bias.

On the internet, there might be clickable links that take you to the sources. Also, check if there's an email address or information on how to contact the author or the organization behind the document or site. This way, if you need more details or have questions, you know how to reach out for more information.

CURRENCY:-

For books and other printed things, when it was published tells you how recent the information is. On the internet, things can be updated, but not always. Some online stuff stays the same, and depending on the topic, it might be old. So, when you're looking at any source, make sure it has at least one date mentioned.

Sometimes, for online documents, you'll see more than one date. For example, if something was a printed document before being put online, it might have both the date it was printed and the date it was put on the internet. There could also be a date showing when the material was last changed or updated. It's best if a document shows all the important dates (you can check section 5.6 for how to list them). Lastly, if you look at the dates of the sources mentioned in the text, it helps you know how current the information is.

SUMMING UP:-

When you're using sources for your research, look closely at a few things: 

• Who wrote it?
• Find out who the author is and why they are qualified to write about the topic.

• Is the information right?
• Check if what the author is saying matches what you've read before, and if it makes sense. Is there any bias in their argument?

• Where did they get their information?
• Make sure the author tells you where they got their information. This helps you check if what they're saying is accurate.

• Are the sources up-to-date?
• Check if the sources the author used are recent or if they are old. This is important for making sure the information is current.

• Who published it?
• See who published the work or supports it. Knowing this helps you understand if it's from a reliable source.

• Did experts review it?
• Check if experts in the field read and recommended the work for publication. This is called peer review and makes the information more trustworthy.

Works Cited:-

• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. United States, Modern Language Association of America, 2009.
• Open AI. "Chat GPT-3.5"

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