Credibility Pretest Explained

Let's go over the pretest.

 

No, don't use it in your bibliography.

Wikipedia can be edited and you cannot be sure of an author's authority. If you are going to use Wikipedia, use it to get ideas and to follow their bibliography to credible sources.

 

Yes, use it in your bibliography.

The Washington Post is edited, authoritative, and timely. Other well-known newspapers and journals are credible, too. Ex: The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, Time, Newsweek, etc.

 

Yes, use it in your bibliography.

.edu site domains are typically authoritative. However, be careful of student sites on the school server. If the URL includes this symbol (~), don't use the information. This particular institute is at a reputable university, MIT.

 

No, don't use it in your bibliography.

When in doubt, don't use the site. In this case, the title doesn't sound legit. And when you look at the site, you see it's made by a kid having fun. Complete ridiculousness.

 

Yes, use it in your bibliography.

The .gov domain is always credible. Government websites are only allowed to state facts. It doesn't matter who is in control of the government or what you think of them, no opinions are allowed on .gov sites.

 

Yes, use it in your bibliography.

Of the major television news agencies, CNN is the most reliable according to fact-checking service Politifact. MSNBC is the next most reliable. Fox News is at the bottom of the list for credibility. In radio news, NPR has an exemplary reputation for credibility and non-bias.