How do you judge whether a source is reliable?
The source-handling skill of evaluating the reliability of sources, judging origin, authorship, purpose, date, sample size, publisher and corroboration to reach a supported overall judgement.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on the source-handling skill of evaluating reliability, covering how to judge the origin and authorship, purpose, date, sample size, publisher and corroboration of a source, and how to structure a How reliable is the source question to reach a supported overall judgement.
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to evaluate the reliability of sources: to judge how trustworthy a source is as evidence, using its origin, purpose, date, sample size, publisher and how well it corroborates with other evidence. This is one of the three source-handling skills assessed in the Higher Modern Studies question paper (alongside objectivity and conclusions) and is usually worth to marks. The same skill underpins the source evaluation you must do in your added value assignment.
The answer
What reliability means
The reliability checklist
A government statistical release is usually more reliable than a random blog because it uses standard, checked methods. A campaign leaflet whose purpose is to persuade may select or exaggerate facts. Old data is less reliable when trends have moved on, and a survey of people in one town cannot reliably represent the whole of Scotland.
Using the source and your own knowledge
Reaching an overall judgement
Finish with a clear overall judgement on how reliable the source is. A balanced verdict such as "partly reliable, because it uses official statistics but is out of date and uses a small sample" shows the higher-level evaluation markers reward. Never stop after listing factors without judging the source as a whole.
Examples in context
A common stimulus pairs an official Scottish Government or ONS statistical release with a partisan leaflet or anonymous blog. The official release scores high on origin, publisher and sample size but may still be checked for date, while the leaflet is weakened by a persuasive purpose, a small sample and old data. A strong answer corroborates: it notes that a leaflet claiming crime is rising is contradicted by official survey data showing a long-term fall, using own knowledge to challenge the source. This is exactly the evaluative move markers reward.
Try this
Q1. State three factors you would use to judge the reliability of a source. [3 marks]
- Cue. The origin and author (expert or biased), the date (up to date or out of date), and the sample size (large and representative or a small poll); the purpose, publisher and corroboration also count.
Q2. Explain why an official survey is usually more reliable than a campaign leaflet. [4 marks]
- Cue. An official survey uses large, representative samples and checked, standard methods and aims to inform, while a campaign leaflet aims to persuade and may use a small sample and selective or exaggerated facts.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher 20188 marksTo what extent are Sources A and B reliable? Use the sources and your own knowledge to evaluate their reliability.Show worked answer →
This is the reliability style of source question, usually worth to marks. Markers reward an evaluative comment on each source backed by evidence from the source itself and from your own knowledge.
To gain full marks you must do three things. First, evaluate reliability rather than just describe the source, using factors such as origin, purpose, date and sample size. Second, support each judgement with detail from the source, for example the date of the data or the size of the sample. Third, reach an overall judgement on how reliable each source is.
A typical mark scheme gives roughly a mark per developed evaluative point with evidence. A point that only describes the source, or asserts it is reliable with no reason, gains nothing.
SQA Higher 20216 marksEvaluate the reliability of Source C as evidence about levels of crime in Scotland.Show worked answer →
A -mark reliability question. Markers look for evaluative comments that weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the source as evidence for the specific issue named.
A strong response checks who produced and published the source (an official survey such as the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey is more reliable than an anonymous blog), the purpose (to inform or to persuade), the date (is the data up to date), and the sample (large and representative or a small online poll). Naming the exact weakness, such as a sample of only people or data from a decade ago, is the discriminator.
The answer should finish with an overall judgement, for example that the source is partly reliable because it uses official statistics but is out of date.
Related dot points
- The skill of detecting bias, exaggeration and selective use of facts in written and statistical sources, and how to identify objective and subjective statements.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on the source-handling skill of detecting bias and exaggeration, covering how to spot selective use of facts, emotive language and overstated claims, and how to tell objective statements from subjective opinions.
- The skill of drawing and supporting conclusions using two or more sources, synthesising evidence, and linking each conclusion clearly to the evidence that supports it.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on the source-handling skill of drawing conclusions, covering how to use two or more sources together, synthesise evidence, write a clear conclusion, and support every conclusion with specific evidence from the sources.
- The added value assignment, including choosing an issue with alternative views, researching from a range of sources, evaluating source reliability, and structuring a balanced report with a supported conclusion.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on the added value assignment, covering how to choose a debatable issue, research from a range of sources, evaluate the reliability of sources, and write a balanced report that reaches a conclusion supported by evidence.
- The role of the traditional and new media in democracy, how the media informs and influences voters and politics, debates about bias and ownership, and the impact of social media on participation.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on the media and democracy, covering the role of traditional and new media, how the media informs and influences voters, debates about ownership and bias, and the impact of social media on political participation.
- The impact of crime on victims, offenders and their families, communities, the economy and public services, and wider society, including the link between crime and deprivation in Scotland.
An SQA Higher Modern Studies answer on the impact of crime, covering the physical, emotional and financial harm to victims, the effects on offenders and their families, the fear of crime in communities, the cost to the economy and public services, and the strong link between crime and deprivation in Scotland.
Sources & how we know this
- SQA Higher Modern Studies Course Specification — SQA (2018)