BIOL 313 - Principles of Ecology

Critically appraising published evidence on scientific topics can be challenging when even experts may disagree. Here are a few resources for building your own skills in evaluating the science:

• Raff, J. How to Read and Understand a Scientific Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide for Non-Scientists. This Huffington Post article is a useful guide to parsing scientific papers.
• University of California at Berkeley. Understanding Science 101. A clear explanation of the scientific method and how science and evidence work.
• Rosen, J. The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof. This New York Times guide explains not only the scientific consensus on climate change, but also how scientists arrive at these conclusions. 

Use the CRAP Test for evaluating web sites and news reports.

Currency

• How recent in the information?
• How recently was the information been updated (ie. website, wiki, blog)
• Is it current enough for your topic?

Reliability

• What kind of information is included in the resource?
• Does the creator provide reference/sources/quotations? Can they be trusted?

Authority

• Who is the creator/author?
• What credentials do they have?
• Is the information sponsored, supported or funded?
• Is the publisher reputable?

Purpose/Point of View

• Is the information fact or opinion?
• Is it biased?
• Is the creator trying to sell you something?
• Are they trying to persuade you in some way?