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Whether you’re an online writer, a technical writer, or an author of any sort, credibility is essential. No matter how well-written your content is, readers won’t trust you or be persuaded. According to a study done by American Press Institute, 80% of Americans say they trust what they read in newspapers. In a poll of 1,000 internet users, 87 percent of people reported that the web and mobile devices have improved their ability to learn new knowledge, with 53 percent saying it has “greatly enhanced” it. These findings show that adding research and data in your work helps readers trust you and feel more educated. So, how including research and statistics in your writing makes you a credible source of information to readers?
What Makes You Credible as a Writer?
The final piece that makes you credible as a writer is including research. The most effective method for adding statistics can either be cited or not. Stats lend credibility and validity to your claims. Not discussing them makes the reader question your word.
Including only a little research and statistics is vital because it could make your writing easier to understand. If you’re arguing with yourself or another writer, it makes sense to include statistics.
But if you’re talking about a topic with other readers, leave out stats for clarity. Remember: The goal is for your readers to trust what you say—not get distracted by your numbers!
Another vital thing that makes you a credible writer is using correct grammar. Many people believe their grammar skills are good enough, so they only edit their work after submitting it to publishers.
However, spelling and grammatical faults make these writers look unprofessional and cast doubt on their reliability. Everyone makes mistakes, but being precise will help you appear professional to readers.
It’s not just spelling—incorrect grammar has caused battles and even murders amongst individuals, so proofreading your work before publication is crucial.
Making sure you check your work for the basics is crucial to maintaining legitimacy as a writer. And while we’ve already discussed several points on what makes someone credible, we still need to discuss ensuring that your content aligns with current issues and ideas.
Writers need to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the world; if they do, their content may be relevant and updated quickly. They also need to tailor their content according to different audiences–their teacher versus their boss, etc.
Why the Research and Statistics Matter?
Many people are often looking for information on the Internet but may need help finding credible sources. The best way to ensure that you’re providing a credible source is by including research and statistics in your writing. This will tell the reader that you’ve done all the necessary research before presenting your ideas.
Researching shows that you’re knowledgeable about what’s happening, and it will make it easier for readers with similar questions or concerns. Statistics show the evidence behind what you’re saying, which builds credibility with readers.
According to PrimoStats, statistics is an effective tool for content marketers to use in communicating their points of view to readers. It is the additional backing that you require to persuade your audience to take action. These stats don’t just support your argument; they shed light on your motivations and the issue you’re attempting to address for the reader.
A survey conducted by American Demographics found that consumers put more trust in brands when they provide them with statistical information, so remember to include these types of stats in your blog post!
Including these two essential elements can give your blog post added strength so it’ll be remembered for its accurate representation of events and ability to inspire others to think about something differently.
Research proves that having a statistic at the end of each paragraph helps students retain more information from the reading material, so if you want to reach more people, try adding some figures to your work.
Which Information to Include?
You want your readers to trust you, so make sure you include information that can be backed up with facts. This will make your claims about a topic more credible.
When writing about something, take the time to research and ensure there is supporting evidence for what you are saying. If you have statistics from previous studies or other sources, consider including them in the text. It helps provide credibility for your research and shows that you have done your homework on the topic.
It’s essential to know which information to include and which not. Some people think they need to have as many details as possible when describing their subject, but too much detail can confuse the reader and leave them wondering if any part of the story is genuine.
Every post should have an element of truthfulness, but focus on what is relevant to your point. Remember: less is often more!
When and Where to Include It?
When writing an essay, it is always essential to include statistics about your topic. This will make you sound like an expert and make readers more likely to believe what you are saying. It is also essential that these statistics be from reputable sources to be trusted.
And while many people think that they should only include research in the introduction or conclusion, this is different. They should be sprinkled throughout the entire essay for maximum effect.
The best place to include them is at the beginning and middle of sentences. You could start with a statistic, then say, according to studies conducted by experts, and follow up with more detailed information about the study.
Since you can use them so much, it is always essential to ensure they are used effectively. Make sure that when you do use statistics, you effectively include them.
Different Types of Sources
Primary, secondary, and tertiary sources can be divided into the first three groups.
Since they provide first-hand accounts of the topic, primary sources are frequently regarded as the most reliable when backing up an argument. Nonetheless, it is your responsibility to verify the accuracy and credibility of the data they present. For example, if you are writing about climate change and looking for scientific evidence that supports your point of view, you should look for peer-reviewed studies.
This process ensures that the researcher was qualified and had their study properly vetted by other professionals before publishing it. On the contrary, if you want to find articles on What Causes Climate Change, you should look for pieces written by journalists or experts who write about climate change regularly. These people also conduct research but publish their findings under a different standard than scientists.
How to Know if a Source Is Credible?
When assessing the reliability of a source, several considerations should be made immediately. If you’re trying to figure out whether or not a source is reliable, you should think about the following:
- The information provided needs to be correct and up to date.
- It should be relevant to the subject matter that you are studying.
- For your investigation to be reliable, the book’s author and publisher must be acknowledged specialists in the relevant field.
- The information that the author uses as a source needs to be easily accessible, easily understood, and objective.
- The URL and format of an online source need to convey the source’s credibility.
When reviewing sources, take into account the following questions:
- Does this sound like someone who knows my field could say?
- Is there enough supporting research to back up the claims? Do they make these claims based on what they have researched or experienced?
- Do they cite other sources or provide examples for his claims (when appropriate)?
- What are their credentials?
- What does their work cover (expertise, etc.)?
- How do you know when a source is considered high quality?
- Who funds them?
- Are they making any money from this company or product that could skew their opinion?
- Why do they write about this topic (what’s in it for them?)
- Are there external links with reputable sites that back up the claim being made by the author?
One of the most popular methods for determining the credibility of a source is the CRAAP test.
CRAAP Testing
The CRAAP test is an exciting acronym that will help you determine the reliability of a source you are considering.
It was established in 2004 at California State University to assist students in better remembering effective practices for analyzing information. Here are the five components of the test:
- Currency: Is the information up-to-date?
- Relevance: To what extent does the source relate to your topic of study?
- Authority: Where is the publication of the source? Can we get the name of the writer? Are their reputation and reliability well-known and respected in their industry?
- Accuracy: Fourth, the source’s veracity: does it accord with the available evidence? Can you verify that the references made are accurate?
- Purpose: Is there a reason this source was made public?
Your study topic will dictate the criteria you use to evaluate each item. If you’re writing about The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro, then the currency would be more important than accuracy; if you were writing about math facts and procedures, then relevance might be most important; but if you were writing about sex education curricula in Texas schools, then the authority would be most important.
Where to Find Credible Sources for Your Writing?
What you utilize for sources is determined by the nature of your investigation. Use primary, secondary, and tertiary sources together to learn the basics of a topic before diving in headfirst.
Depending on the nature of your topic, you can start looking for credible sources in encyclopedias, textbooks, the Internet’s educational and nonprofit websites, first-hand accounts in the news media, and academic periodicals.
Also, you can find credible sources by asking people who are experts in the field what they recommend or using reliable reference sources such as Britannica Online Encyclopedia. You must always cite your sources properly so that readers know where you found your information.
Finally, remember that only some things you read online are accurate; use search engines wisely to find information that other credible sources have corroborated.
How to Evaluate Web Sources?
Verifying the reliability of online sources can take a lot of work. This makes it more challenging to attribute authorship, pinpoint when they were published, and understand their intent.
Anyone, at any time, can post content on the Internet without going through the rigorous review procedure required of print publications like academic journals and books. Checking a website’s domain name (or URL) is the first step in determining its reliability. The website’s “.com” or “.net” suffix can provide clues about its intended audience.
Some domains, such as .edu, are reserved for educational institutions, while others might belong to specific companies or organizations. To verify the site’s credibility, look for URLs that end with gov, academia, org, or mil.
These websites are likely more credible than those ending in .com, .biz, .info, etc., which may not have been vetted by anyone other than an individual publishing personal opinions.
Be wary of sites that use sensational headlines, do not provide author information, don’t cite sources, and make outrageous claims. If something seems too promising to be true, it probably is.
Conclusion
Want people to trust you as a reliable source of information? Including research and statistics will help readers see you as a credible writer. If you do not have any numbers or studies, just saying something is common knowledge or assuming it is true does not make it so.
It is best to use facts from reputable sources because people can find out if the information is accurate and trace it back to the original.
