As you do your research about CAM, it is vital to establish what information is credible and reliable. By the time you complete this assignment you should have made some decisions about the credibility and reliability of information related to CAM.
Create an 8- to 10-slide presentation (Microsoft® PowerPoint®, Prezi, etc.) that provides guidance for assessing credibility and reliability of an online source about CAM information. Ensure you:
- Describe how a consumer’s attitudes and beliefs about CAM could affect the assessment of reliability and credibility of source information about CAM.
- Create five objective criteria to evaluate the credibility and reliability of a source of information on CAM. Discuss how you arrived at each criterion and how it can help assess reliability of source information.
- Select a CAM therapy or modality different from the one you selected in Week 1, and do research for information about this therapy or modality.
- Using the five objective criteria you created above, provide a review on one of the websites you found in your search and evaluate the reliability and credibility of the information it presents on CAM. Ensure you:
- Explain how the website met or did not meet each of the criterion you created.
- Describe steps the website could take to increase its credibility, if necessary.
- Include detailed speaker notes and reference citations formatted according to APA guidelines.
Present the Assessing Reliability and Credibility of CAM Resources Presentation according to your campus enrollment listed below:
- For Local Campus students: an oral presentation accompanied by a visual presentation (at the discretion of faculty)
- For Online and Directed Study students: a visual presentation with a speaker notes document
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: This assignment involves creating a presentation that provides guidance for assessing the credibility and reliability of an online source about CAM information. The presentation should include objective criteria to evaluate the credibility and reliability, as well as a review of a CAM therapy website using the criteria.
1. How can a consumer’s attitudes and beliefs about CAM affect the assessment of reliability and credibility of source information about CAM?
A consumer’s attitudes and beliefs about CAM can greatly influence their perception of the credibility and reliability of source information about CAM. If a consumer has a positive attitude towards CAM, they may be more inclined to trust information that is presented positively, even if it lacks scientific evidence. On the other hand, if a consumer has a negative attitude towards CAM, they may be skeptical of any information presented, regardless of its reliability.
2. What are five objective criteria to evaluate the credibility and reliability of a source of information on CAM?
1. Authority: Does the source come from a reputable author or organization with expertise in CAM?
2. Currency: Is the information up-to-date and relevant to current CAM practices?
3. Accuracy: Is the information supported by credible sources and scientific evidence?
4. Objectivity: Is the information presented without bias or personal opinions?
5. Usability: Is the information accessible and easy to understand for the intended audience?
Each criterion was chosen based on the idea that a credible and reliable source should be authoritative, accurate, up-to-date, unbiased, and accessible.
3. Select a CAM therapy or modality different from the one you selected in Week 1, and do research for information about this therapy or modality. Using the five objective criteria you created above, provide a review on one of the websites you found in your search and evaluate the reliability and credibility of the information it presents on CAM. Ensure you:
For the purpose of this prompt, we will select mindfulness meditation as the CAM therapy. A website that provides information on mindfulness meditation is www.mindful.org.
4. Explain how the website met or did not meet each of the criterion you created.
Authority: The website is owned and operated by the Foundation for a Mindful Society, a reputable non-profit organization that promotes mindfulness education and practice. Therefore, the website meets the authority criterion.
Currency: The website is frequently updated with new articles and information related to mindfulness meditation, which suggests that it meets the currency criterion.
Accuracy: The information presented on the website is supported by credible sources and scientific evidence, making it accurate and trustworthy.
Objectivity: The website presents information in an objective manner, without personal opinions or biases. Therefore, it meets the objectivity criterion.
Usability: The website is user-friendly and accessible, making it easy for individuals to navigate, find, and understand information. Therefore, it meets the usability criterion.
5. Describe steps the website could take to increase its credibility, if necessary.
Based on the evaluation, it seems that the website already meets all of the objective criteria. However, if necessary, the website could further increase its credibility by including citations and references to scientific studies and sources. This would provide readers with additional evidence to support the information presented and further solidify the website’s reliability.
