G184 Dittmer Global Climate Change: Reliable Science Information

Types of science information

Climate change is a uniquely complicated topic.  The topic relates to politics, economics, social structures and cclimate change graphulture in addition to science.  Misinformation and disinformation abound.  Where do you find reliable science sources?

As you search the internet and library databases, the best resources you find will come in two main forms. 

  • Peer reviewed research articles and reports from governmental organizations.  These are written directly by the scientists who conducted the research.  These primary source articles are written for an audience of other scientists, and can be challenging for the general public to understand. 
  • Credible magazines, news sources and web sites.  These are written for the general public, and will summarize the results of scientific research studies.  These secondary source articles are the most useful for non-professional scientists.  However, it is essential to use only high quality sources because we are depending on the author to interpret the primary research correctly. 

You will likely find and use a combination of primary and secondary sources of information for your assignment.  You should review the information on this page about the different formats of science information so you are prepared to understand and evaluate these different sources. 

Peer reviewed articles -- the basics

First, watch this three minute video to understand the basics of peer review.  Then follow the link under the video to learn some essential tips for reading and understanding a peer reviewed article. 

Peer reviewed articles are very credible, and also VERY HARD to read and understand.  Review these tips from Utah State University to make the process easier:  How to Read a Scientific Article. 

Types of Articles

There are many different types of articles. The chart below can help you figure out which type(s) you're looking for or identify an article you've already found:

Decorative image of a newspaper News articles provide the most current information. Certain newspapers, such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, are also known for thoughtful, in-depth analyses of important topics and events.
Decorative image of a magazine cover Popular magazine articles can help you generate ideas about issues, controversies, or unanswered questions about a topic, which you might want to explore further. They sometimes refer to studies or scholarly work that you can track down for more information.
Decorative image of a trade magazine cover Trade publications are written by and for professionals within an industry. These are an excellent source of very specific information from inside the field.
Decorative image of a scholarly journal cover Scholarly journal articles go through a process of peer review before they are published. They are written by experts in the field (the people with letters after their name!) and their purpose is to advance the ongoing body of work within the discipline. These articles might present original research data and findings, or take a position on a key question within the field. They can be difficult to read, because their intended audience is other experts and academics, but they are at the top of the line when it comes to authoritative information.

Evaluating science information

Peer reviewed research is highly credible but very difficult for the non-scientist to understand.  Science information found online is easier to understand, but may not be credible.  How can you know if you can trust an information source?  This informaiton below provides tips, but always feel free to ask your instructor or a librarian for assistance evaluating a source. 

Evaluating sources (from PCC Library)

Evaluating Sources: Questions to Ask

Decorative image of question marksHow do you know if a source is right for your research? Below are some questions you can ask about your sources. There are no good or bad sources, but sources can be useful or not useful based on the evidence you're looking for.

  1. Who is the author? What do you know about the author’s background? (hint: Google the author). What makes the author an expert on this particular topic (remember that experience and research are markers of expertise as well as education)?
  2. What journal, magazine, organization, or website published this information? Look for an "about" page on the publisher's website (or explore their website) and also Google the name of the publication/organization/website (or look for a Wikipedia page about it) to learn more about the publisher of the information. What kind of reputation does it have? What is their purpose in sharing this information? Is it known for promoting specific points of view? 

  3. Can you tell where the information in the article came from? Do they share any information from other sources or does it seem like they’re sharing their opinion? If they used other sources, do those sources seem worth trusting?

  4. Based on your answers to these questions, would you trust this source? If not, could anything from this article still be useful? Often articles link to other useful resources or mention other authors and studies that could be helpful.

You may not get good answers from all of these questions, but still trust a source. For example, an opinion piece from a noted expert in a specific field could be a useful source, but chances are, they are not going to be citing sources. Information from the Centers for Disease Control website is trustworthy, but much of it doesn't have an author. You have to weigh each of these factors when making your decision.