Searchguide – BTH English

Criticism of the sources is

• to evaluate the source critically
• to evaluate the credibility
• to find out who or what is the source
• to establish the authenticity of the source
• to check its information

Why evaluate critically?

The purpose of critical evaluation is to try to establish whether the source treats what it claims to treat, if it is relevant and reliable. You can begin by sorting your material from these criteria. Even though it might be difficult to get a clear answer for each item on the list, it is important though to evaluate your sources based on these criteria.

When you have sought information and found material it is time to evaluate what you have found critically. Does the material answer your questions? Is it enough, or do you need more information? Is it credible? In order to be able to establish this you must wear ”critical evaluation glasses”. Here are some issues you should consider when you check the credibility of your material.

• Can you establish publisher and originator? Are they trustworthy?
• Who is the author and what is his background?
• Has the author published anything in that subject field before?
• Has the publication gone through some kind of quality examination?
• Is the information up-to-date? Information ages quickly in certain subject fields.
• Are sources and references stated correctly? Do they refer to up-to-date and relevant literature?
• Which is the main result? Is method and material accounted for?
• Does the information contain facts or opinions? Is it the author’s own opinions which are presented or is it a compilation of other people’s thoughts.
• What is the author’s purpose of the published information?
• Do facts from different sources correspond?
• Does the publication seem credible? What do others say about the publication? Are there any reviews?
• Is this something you can use in your work?

The main rule that applies is that you should consider all information with critical judgment, and use common sense for the evaluation.

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-04

The copyright law states how you may use material that somebody else has created. The law protects texts, pictures, photographs, music, films, computer programs etc. Copyright means that the person or persons who create a work have the right to control how it is used.

Copyright law

Copyright regulates a creator’s sole right to artistic and literary works, music, art, photographs, computer programs etc. The originator has the sole right of disposal for these. The Swedish copyright law (SFS 1960:729) gives all originators, regardless of nationality, the same protection. If you want to use something that somebody else has created, you should or must often ask permission from the copyright owner first.

How long is a work protected?

Copyright lasts 70 years after the death of the originator. If the work is anonymous, copyright lasts 70 from the publication of the work. Read more about this in the copyright law § 43-44, 49a

What is protected by copyright?

Regarding text material, for example novels and poems, as well as translations are protected. Also articles from journals and newspapers are comprised by the law.

Works of art such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, pictures and photographs are also protected. All photographs are protected by copyright law. The law separates photographic work from photographs though. The more artistic pictures count as photographic works. Also building plans and utility articles such as furniture are included.

Databases and catalogues have a special protection which is valid for fifteen years. Computer programs on the other hand are protected by copyright law. Read more in the Copyright law § 26 g-h.

Are you allowed to make copies?

You have the right to make single copies for private use of works that have been made public. Private use means that apart from making copies for your own use you can also make single copies for your family and a close circle of friends. Copying is only permitted for limited parts of books or other literary works.
You must not on the other hand make copies of computer programs and databases. Read more in the Copyright law § 12.

Are you allowed to quote somebody else’s work?

You are allowed to quote from publicized works “according to custom” and to an extent which is motivated in the context. “According to custom” means that quoting is only allowed if it is motivated by the purpose. For example, it can be considered to be permitted to quote from a work in connection with the writing of a review, or when writing a scientific text. The originator should always be named when his work is used. Read more in the Copyright law § 22.

What happens if you violate the copyright law?
A person who violates the copyright law can be sentenced to pay damages. If you commit an intentional violation of another person’s copyright you can be sentenced to a fine or to prison. Read more in the Copyright law § 53-54.

Copyright and the Internet

Copyright also comprise documents which are published on the Internet. This means that the copyright limits the rights for how you can use documents on the Internet, even if you have access to them from your computer.

When a computer user copies and permanently stores a work protected by copyright this means that it is a production of a copy. Multiplying documents on the Internet therefore requires the permission of the copyright owner. The automatic, temporary copy that many computer programs produce when the computer user reads a document on the Internet is not considered to be a reproduction however.

An Internet user has the right to make a copy of an Internet document without the permission of the copyright owner, on condition that the copy is for personal use or a small circle of family and friends. The copy must not be used for other purposes. This exception does not concern computer programs. They must not be copied.

The right to quote makes it permitted to cite from a copyright protected document on the Internet, under the presupposition that it is done according to good practice and only to the extent that is motivated by the purpose. The source must be stated correctly and the quote must not be too long. However, you must not use e.g. a quote from a work of fiction in an advertisement or to sweeten your own work.

Copyright and full text resources

Copyright also comprises those resources available in full text from the Library web site. The regulations that apply to those resources Blekinge Institute of Technology subscribes to are specified in special license agreements.

Generally speaking, these rules can be summarized according to the following:
“This service includes licensed data only intended for use in scientific work, research, education and for personal use. To alter, make compilations, copy system- or software, resell, redistribute, publish or republish data is not permitted.”

A new copyright law came into force July 1st 2005.

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-04

Scientific documents that you find through the common search engines are mixed with commercials and personal opinions on the Internet. How do I know that the information I have found is useful? How do I check who has published the information and its origin? In the following text you will find some advice for criticism of the sources.

What is the URL of the web page?

Here you can often see if the page was made by a university, a company or a private person.

The top domain is the highest level in the Internet domain system, i.e. in a web or e-mail address, and it is written in the form of a code. The part that is at the very right in a domain name is the top domain. This states either official authority, organization, special area of use or a certain nation. For example www.who.org has the top domain .ORG. Swedish web sites have SE for top domain.

Who made it?

Are there any references in the background information about the creator of the web site? Check if it is possible to contact the institution or person behind the page. Does the originator know much about the subject which is discussed on the web page? Can you find previous publications from the same person? Is it is a well-known name in the field? Never trust an anonymous web page!

If you can not find information about the origin of a web site, this is a useful piece of advice:

It is not uncommon for unreliable people or organizations to try to spread their message in the light of a serious organization or authority. You need to be observant when you come across pages where the contents are not what you expect it to be. Many web sites have addresses that can only be told apart from the original by the top domain of the address. For example compare the following web sites:

One of the following pages has The Living History Forum as originator. The other has a completely different origin.
http://www.levandehistoria.com/
http://www.levandehistoria.org/

One of the web sites below belongs to the White House while the other offers information on education.

www.whitehouse.gov
www.whitehouse.com

On one of these addresses you will find the official website of the World Trade Organisation.
www.gatt.org
www.wto.org

How old is the web page?

Information can become outdated quickly. Because of this it is important to see how old it is. Are the contents and the links of the webpage updated continuously? Does it matter if the material on the web page is old? Historical information does not age as quickly as medical information.

Is the material on the web page fact or advertisement?

Corporate pages often contain facts as well as advertisements. You need to be observant about what parts are facts, and what parts are advertisements.

What is the appearance of the web page?

Is it clear and structured? Are the links updated? Is the language polite and proofread?

Do the contents of the page match your need?

Is the material found on the web page relevant for your studies?

Is there a list of works cited and references?

Is it clear what sources the page is based on? Are statements supported with references to up to date and relevant literature?

—————

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-05

Scientific documents that you find through the common search engines are mixed with commercials and personal opinions on the Internet. How do I know that the information I have found is useful? How do I check who has published the information and its origin? In the following text you will find some advice for criticism of the sources.

What is the URL of the web page?

Here you can often see if the page was made by a university, a company or a private person.
The top domain is the highest level in the Internet domain system, i.e. in a web or e-mail address, and is written in the form of a code. The part that is at the very right in a domain name is the top domain. This states either official authority, organization, special area of use or a certain nation. For example www.who.org has the top domain .ORG. Swedish web sites have .se for top domain.

Who made it?

Are there any references in the background information about the creator of the web site? Check if it is possible to contact the institution or person behind the page. Does the originator know much about the subject which is discussed on the web page? Can you find previous publications from the same person? Is it is a well-known name in the field? Never trust an anonymous web page!

If you can not find information about the origin of a web site, this is a useful piece of advice:

It is not uncommon for unreliable people or organizations to try to spread their message in the light of a serious organization or authority. You need to be observant when you come across pages where the content is not what you expect it to be. Many web sites have addresses that can only be told apart from the original by the top domain of the address. Compare for example the following web sites:

One of the web sites below belongs to the White House while the other offers information on education.

www.whitehouse.gov
www.whitehouse.com

On one of these addresses you will find the official website of the World Trade Organisation.
www.gatt.org
www.wto.org

How old is the web page?

Information can become outdated quickly. Because of this it is important to see how old it is. Are the contents and the links of the webpage updated continuously? Does it matter if the material on the web page is old? Historical information does not age as quickly as medical information.

Is the material on the web page fact or advertisement?
Corporate pages often contain facts as well as advertisements. You need to be observant about what are facts and what is advertisement.

What is the appearance of the web page?

Is it clear and structured? Are the links updated? Is the language polite and proofread?

Does the contents of the page match your need?

Is the material found on the web page relevant for your studies?

Is there a list of works cited and references?

Is it clear what sources the page is based on? Are statements supported with references for up to date and relevant literature?

—————

Anne-Marie Pettersson
2010-02-08