PACT Research Skills Flashcards

Which of the following best defines a primary source?

Answer: An original, firsthand account or direct evidence such as a diary or original study

Primary sources are original, uninterpreted materials — such as diaries, raw data, speeches, or original research — created at the time of an event.

When evaluating a website as a research source, which factor is most important for assessing credibility?

Answer: The author's credentials and the site's affiliation

Author credentials and organizational affiliation indicate whether the content was produced by a qualified, accountable source.

A researcher wants to find peer-reviewed academic articles. Which resource is most appropriate?

Answer: A university library database such as JSTOR or EBSCO

Academic library databases index peer-reviewed journals, ensuring content has been evaluated by experts before publication.

What does it mean for a source to be 'peer-reviewed'?

Answer: Experts in the same field evaluated the work before publication

Peer review is a quality-control process in which subject-matter experts assess a manuscript's accuracy and rigor before it is published.

Which of the following is an example of plagiarism?

Answer: Copying a paragraph from a source without attribution

Using another person's words or ideas without proper credit, regardless of intent, constitutes plagiarism.

The CRAAP test is used to evaluate sources. What does the second 'A' in CRAAP stand for?

Answer: Authority

The CRAAP test stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose — the two A's are Authority and Accuracy.