Authority—also called expertise—is about whether someone is a trustworthy source of information on a topic. Knowing how to recognizeauthority helps you choose the best sources for your research.
· Authority Goal: Find an authoritative source created by a person or organization who knows the subject, has expertise, and demonstrates credibility.
· Authority refers to the credibility of the source's author. Ask yourself these questions when thinking about the authority, or credibility, of a source and its author/publisher: Who is the author? (Remember that authors can be organizations or institutions.)
· It's the reason that a hospital will have someone who specializes in brain surgery and someone who specializes in heart surgery. So, keep asking yourself: What makes this person qualified to speak on this topic? Are they respected/trusted by other experts?
· Someone who by virtue of their position (in a government agency, for instance) could be considered to be an authority. No matter where you find a source is listed, check them out. Do your due diligence so that you are not embarrassed later.
· The question you may asking yourselves right now is " how does this help me determine who I should consult and use in my research writing?' The answer lies in many of the habits of mind we've covered already in the course.
· This guide is created to aid you in your development of critical thinking skills and in your ability to conduct research using library resources.
