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BIOL 1408 Biology for Non-Science Majors I

This guide is for students taking BIOL 1408, Biology for Non-Science Majors I. The resources listed here will help you understand biological concepts and find success in your class.

A picture of a carp fish with the words C.A.A.R.P. Test. Does this resource smell a little fishy?

A good research project is based on good information. High-quality science information is unbiased and has a clear connection to previously published research. Basing a research assignment on low-quality information automatically lowers the quality of your research and makes any conclusions you draw seem questionable. 

You need to evaluate every potential source before you use it. This can be a difficult and lengthy process, but the C.A.A.R.P. test gives you a 5-factor framework to use:

Currency: Recently published information is informed by the full range of research on your topic. If two resources are similar, choose the newer one. A good rule of thumb for science information is to look for information that is less than 5 years old.

Authority: If the author is not an expert (advanced degree and/or works in that field), the source is less credible. Google the author to try to find their credentials and work background. This technique is called lateral reading and is often used by professional fact-checkers. If you see medical information that seems unreliable, you can check to see if a practitioner is in good standing with their state licensing agency.   

Accuracy: Is someone other than the author evaluating the information before publication to make sure it is correct and the conclusions the author draws are valid? When your professors ask you to find a peer-reviewed resource, they want you to use an article from an academic journal. These articles are written by experts and evaluated by other experts before they are published. Peer-reviewed articles are easily found using the filters in library databases. If you use any resource outside of a peer-reviewed journal, you will personally need to evaluate the information for accuracy. This can be harder to do if your potential sources do not have a reference list. If you use social media as a source, remember that popularity does not correlate with accuracy. You will need to personally validate social media information by checking it against credible sources. 

Relevance: You want sources that are the best fit for your topic and are written at the right level for what you need. Give preference to articles that focus on your topic rather than just mention it.

Purpose: Be careful about biased sources. You are looking for sources that inform rather than persuade or sell. An easy way to find more neutral sources is to use library databases.