How do I find out the author's credentials?
- Check the domain name.
- Take a closer look at the source.
- Search for additional information to back up what you've found.
- Use certain sources only to jump-start additional research.
How can I find out more about an individual author?
Sometimes you can find a personal page about an individual. Many of the faculty members at OSU have a website that lists their credentials (education) and research. Do a search in one of the online databases to see what else the author has written. Is this person someone who published a lot in this field?
How do you determine whether an author is credible?
In order to determine whether an author is credible, you need to do some investigating. It will be helpful to try and answer the following questions: Who is the author/publisher/sponsor? What are the author's credentials? Are they affiliated with reputable organizations? Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
How do I find the author of a website article?
Many websites that employ contributing and staff writers will often display the author name at the top or bottom of an article. This is the first place you should look for an author. Find the website's copyright information.
How do you find the affiliation of an author?
Author and affiliation. In a research article, the authors will list their affiliation, usually with a university or research institution. In this example, the author's affiliation is clearly shown on the first page of the article. In a research article, you will never have an anonymous author or need to look for the author's name or affiliation.
Where do you find the author's credentials on a website?
If your source is a website, look for an “About Me” section. Books and articles might also identify the author's university affiliation or academic credentials (advanced degrees, etc.).
How do I find the credentials of a research article?
Locating Credentials Typically, the names of the academic or research institutions the authors are affiliated with will be stated on the first page of the journal article, either near the authors' names, or lower on the page.
How do I find information about an author?
In books, information about the author may be included at the beginning or end of the book, or on the back or on the inside cover. If the book includes an introduction written by someone other than the author, some details about the author will usually be mentioned.
What would be considered as an example of an author's credentials?
What would be considered as an example of an author's credentials? A statement of the author's opinions relative to a particular topic. Awards, degrees earned, and the experience with the topic that the author might have. Pieces of information that share how the author found his or her information.
Which source can be used to find the academic achievements of an author?
Lesson Summary. An academic source, also known as a peer reviewed or scholarly source, is a source (usually an article or book) written by an expert in a field of study that has been through a rigorous peer review process.
What are credentials in research?
"Credentials" often refer to academic or educational qualifications, such as degrees or diplomas that you have completed or partially-completed. "Credentials" can also refer to occupational qualifications, such as professional certificates or work experience.
What are the credentials of the author?
Is this person real?CredentialQuestion to AskEducational BackgroundIs the author's education in the subject area in which they are writing?Other WritingsHas the author written other books or articles on the same or a similar topic?ExperienceIs the book, article, Web site written in the author's field of expertise?
How do you evaluate the credibility of an author?
To determine the credibility of the author, check the book in the following places: Author's note (if there is one), Foreword and/or Introduction (if there is one), and the About the Author (often found on the back cover). Look for information about the author's education and expertise on the topic.
How do you know who published an article?
Note: The publisher or sponsoring organization can often be found in a copyright notice at the bottom of the home page or on a page that gives information about the site. When the page is authored and published by the same corporation/group/organization, begin your citation with the section title.
Why should you check an author's credentials?
The credibility of an author is very important in determining the quality of sources you have located and are thinking of using for your research project.
Are usually particular about the credentials of the author's they publish?
Academic journals are usually particular about the credentials of the authors they publish. Underneath the title on the article will be the name of the author or authors with their academic credentials starting with the primary author.
Why are author's credentials profile important in academic writing?
An author's credibility helps support your ideas and arguments in an essay or research paper. If your sources lack credibility, it undermines the effectiveness of your paper and perhaps your own credibility.
Learn more about the author
If you can't find an author affiliation or want to learn more about the authors and their credentials, here are some ways to do so:
Author and affiliation
One of the first things to look for is the author or authors. In a research article, the authors will list their affiliation, usually with a university or research institution. In this example, the author's affiliation is clearly shown on the first page of the article.
Is a book review a good resource?
If your source is a book, book reviews are a good resource to answer this question , and you may be able to find several using the library’s Multi-Search . Another helpful criteria is how often the source is used by other scholars. Google Scholar.
Can a source identify the author?
Most sources will list an author but some, such as websites, may not readily identify the author’s name. The author may also be an entity, such as an organization, a government office, or a corporation.
How to know if a book is credible?
If you want to determine if a book author is credible, check the foreword/preface/introduction and back cover of the book.
What does Google Scholar tell you?
Google Scholar provides a feature that will tell you how often the article has been cited by others (a high number of citations is a good indicator that the author is credible). Another feature in Google Scholar is the ability to link to an author's profile.
What is an academic journal?
Academic journals are written for experts in an academic field and the articles are contributed by scholars who are considered experts. An author of a scholarly (or academic) article will usually include his/her credentials or affiliations. You will also see references (footnotes, endnotes, etc.). Check to see if the author has written other ...
How to find the author of an article?
1. Look at the top and bottom of an article. Many websites that employ contributing and staff writers will often display the author name at the top or bottom of an article. This is the first place you should look for an author.
What does it mean when a website does not have an author?
If the specific page you are looking at does not have an author and is on a reputable website, it was probably authored under the authorization of the company or agency that runs the site. This can serve as the author if no specific author is listed.
Do you need a URL for a website in MLA?
Depending on which method of citation you're using, and your instructor's guidelines, you may need the URL of the page or article. MLA7 no longer requires including the URL for websites. The page title and site title are sufficient. Check with your instructor if you use MLA for your citation format.