Reasons why a blog is generally not considered to be a credible source
What is a blog?
Blogs are written by an author or a group of authors and generally cover a specific topic. Blogs, short for Web logs, started as simple online diaries with a specific structure, with new posts always appearing on top of the website. Blogging has become extremely popular, and there seems to be a blog on every subject under the sun, so it is entirely possible that there is a blog out there relating to your research topic.
Is a blog a credible source?
In general, blogs should not be considered credible sources. While some of them are written by real experts and can be great sources for some topics, many are strongly opinionated and can lack the professionalism expected in a scholarly source. In some papers on contemporary or Internet-related topics, it might be appropriate to use a blog, especially now that many famous politicians and media personalities are blogging.
What to do when you want to use a blog post as a source
To evaluate the credibility of a source, do the following:
- Be skeptical!
- Check the author’s credentials
- Evaluate the blog for bias
- Check how often the blog is updated
And note the following: Blogs may often be sponsored or endorsed by other, sometimes larger organizations, and that information should be made available on the blog. Also, blogs can make money by selling ad space on their sites, so beware of excessive ads. Beware that there is no bar for entry and no quality control for blogs. While books and journal articles make it through several review and editing stages, blog authors can essentially publish anything without anyone fact-checking it.
Frequently Asked Questions about blogs as unreliable sources
🙆♂️ Why is a blog an unreliable source?
In general, blogs are considered unreliable scholarly sources because many are strongly opinionated and can lack the professionalism expected in a scholarly source.
🙅♀️ Is a science blog a credible source?
Most blogs are not reliable sources, however, you can prove it is a reliable source by evaluating it carefully. As with any source, be sure to check the author's credentials, evaluate the blog for bias, and check how often it is updated.
👨🏫 Is a blog written by a professional a credible source?
A blog written by a professional can be both reliable and unreliable. You always need to make sure to check the author’s credentials, evaluate the blog for bias, and check how often it is updated.
👩💻 What type of blogs can be used as credible sources?
It is recommended not to use blogs are sources for research. However, if you come across a blog proven to be reliable then you may use it.
📔 What is a blog?
Blogs are written by an author or a group of authors and generally cover a specific topic. Blogs, short for Web logs, started as simple online diaries with a specific structure, with new posts always appearing on top of the website.
