Biology Science Information Literacy: Primary/Secondary Sources, Peer Review, and Credibility

VOCABULARY flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on sources, peer review, and credibility in science.

Primary source

Original research published by the researchers who conducted the study; presents methods, data, and conclusions first-hand.

Secondary source

A summary or interpretation of primary sources; translates complex research into more accessible form.

Peer review

Evaluation of a manuscript by experts in the field before publication to verify methods, data, and conclusions.

Falsify

To alter data or methods to misrepresent results and achieve a desired conclusion.

Fabricate

To create data or results that did not occur or were never collected.

Conflict of interest

A situation where authors' financial or personal interests could bias research; disclosed in the paper.

Competing interests

Another term for conflict of interest; used interchangeably in some journals.

Credible source

A source with verifiable credentials, transparent funding, and minimal bias.

Misinformation

False or misleading information spread, often through misinterpretation or rumor; can mislead public understanding.

Anecdotal evidence

Evidence based on personal stories or isolated cases rather than systematic data.

Empirical evidence

Knowledge derived from observation or experiment; data-driven and testable.

Primary sources in libraries

University libraries provide access to paywalled primary sources via licenses; you can check availability for free.

Google Scholar

A search tool for scholarly literature to locate and access primary sources and other research papers.

Secondary sources examples

Reputable outlets that summarize primary research, such as respected science magazines or institutions (e.g., Smithsonian, National Geographic).

Interpreting credibility online

Evaluate credentials, potential bias, and whether the source is pushing a product or viewpoint.

Reproducibility

The extent to which other researchers can reproduce results using the same methods and data.