The RADAR Method
Over the following lessons, we will be introducing a useful method that can help you identify reputable sources that are valid from different scientific perspectives. This method is called RADAR, which stands for rationale, authority, date, accuracy, and relevance. We will explore each point in detail and guide you to better identify sources that are reliable and informative for your research.
To learn more about each step of the RADAR method, you can hover over its respective letter below and then click on the word!
Rationale
Authority
Date
Accuracy
Relevance
Rationale refers to the motivation behind what is being presented and how it is being presented.
Let’s take a look at how rationale can affect the validity of a source. Look at the slideshows below: the source will be introduced on the first slide, then move to the next slide to see how rationale helps us evaluate a source.
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At first glance, we might think that using either source can provide us with the knowledge that we are looking for. But let’s take a deeper look at the rationale behind each source on the second slide, and how this informs their (the source's) validity and reliability as a source. To do this, let’s consider the authors’ motivations and potential for ulterior motives.
Source #1: Natural News
Natural News is a news website that publishes articles about “the synthetic chemicals, heavy metals, hormone disruptors and other chemicals found in foods, medicines, personal care products, children's toys and other items,” according to their website [1].
Swipe to the next slide...
Source #2: This Week in Virology
This Week in Virology is a science podcast that was started by two professors at Columbia University Medical Center, Vincent Racaniello, a professor of Microbiology, and Dickson Despommier, a professor of Microbiology and Public Health, to discuss different topics about viruses in an accessible way [2].
Swipe to the next slide...
This Week in Virology
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...because there is no ulterior motive or motivation by profits.
Based on rationale, which of the two sources above is more reliable?
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*hover to reveal answer*
When looking at the rationale of a source always consider:
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Author’s motivations
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Ulterior motives
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Conflicts of interest
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The source’s goals/aims
Rationale
Authority
Date
Accuracy
Relevance
Authority refers to the trustworthiness of the author (person or organization) to produce reliable information in this field.
Let’s take a look at how authority can affect the validity of a source by taking a look at two different websites. Look at the slideshows below: the source will be introduced on the first slide, then move to the next slide to see how authority helps us evaluate a source.
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While both sources can provide the user information on a similar topic, the validity of the information provided differs based on the author of the source. Take a deeper look at how authority can dictate the reliability of a source on the second slide by considering the author’s credentials, reputation, and whether the source is peer-reviewed.
Source #1: The Subreddit r/science
The subreddit r/science is a Reddit page/platform where individuals can anonymously read about and discuss new scientific research in different fields such as biology, astronomy, life sciences, and more [3].
Swipe to the next slide...
Source #2: BiteSizeBio
BiteSizeBio is a platform created by scientists and researchers to provide support for researchers in biological sciences [4].
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When looking at the authority of a source always consider:
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Author’s credentials
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Author’s reputation and past experience
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Anonymity of author
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Peer review process
BiteSizeBio​
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...because the author(s) are not anonymous, and are credible and reputable with experience in their field.
Based on authority, which of the two sources above is more reliable?
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*hover to reveal answer*
Rationale
Authority
Date
Accuracy
Relevance
Date refers to when the information was published and whether it is the most up-to-date information available on the topic.
There are some important considerations to make when looking at the date of a source. While it can be easy to just equate “old” with “bad” and “new” with “good,” it is not as straightforward as that. For example, if a source is old, we must investigate whether those results were reproduced or reported on in recent sources. Is there evidence to oppose claims made in older sources or is the current field still in agreement? In contrast, while looking at newer sources gives us the most up-to-date information, there is a negative to that as we will need to monitor the field to see if the results provided by a source are still consistently reproducible in a few years. ​
Let’s take a deeper look at how date can affect validity by considering the examples in the following slides. Take a deeper look at how the date of the source can dictate its reliability and the importance of looking at the date of the references cited by a source.
Source #1: Science News
Science News is a non-profit organization reporting on the scientific advancements made in several fields [5].
Swipe to the next slide to take a look at their recent article about cicadas...
Source #2: Science Daily
Science Daily is a news platform which highlights recent discoveries made in the fields of health, science, and technology [6].
Swipe to the next slide to take a look at their recent article about cicadas...
Therefore, it is important to consider both the date of the source itself and its references when assessing the date of a source and whether the information is up-to-date.
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But does this mean that anytime a source was published over a certain number of years ago that it is not reliable?
Now, it may be easy to immediately deem any old source as unreliable, but this is certainly not the case. For example, the discovery of DNA was made tens of years ago, and the information that was reported when that discovery was made, (while has been added on to), still remains true. Hover on the box to learn more.
Watson & Crick’s paper on the double helical structure of DNA was published in 1953. Though over 70 years old (at the time of our publishing in 2024), it still provides foundational knowledge about the structure of DNA. More recent sources will still cite this article as the original source of our most current understanding of the topic. Therefore, despite the date of this publication, it remains reliable as it is in agreement with the current field as foundational, reproduced, and unchanged knowledge.
Rationale
Authority
Date
Accuracy
Relevance
Accuracy means information provided by the source is in alignment with the general consensus of the scientific community.
In order to evaluate the validity of the source in terms of its accuracy, we need to first consider whether there is more than one source backing up the same claim. It is also worthwhile to check the validity of the sources being referenced using the RADAR method, as some may not be trustworthy (i.e., even if an article contains citations, that does not mean they’re good citations).
The sources should also show the logical flow and data supporting conclusions or claims being made as it correlates with the amount of thought the authors put into their writing. Lastly, peer-reviewed sources are often more accurate because different experts (other than the author) review the quality and factuality of the article before publication.
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Let’s explore in detail whether articles from two different sources, both on the topic of stem cells, contain accurate information.
Source #1: Frontiers
Frontiers is a well-known scientific journal containing a curation of peer-reviewed scientific articles from a wide range of subjects in the sciences.
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In this example, we will be focusing on an article titled "Cellular functions of spermatogonial stem cells in relation to JAK/STAT signaling pathway." [8]
Keep in mind that Frontiers is a well-known and established journal that is peer-reviewed. It publishes articles with accurate and detailed information. We are only looking at one particular article that did not match their publication criteria, and in fact, it was retracted from the journal just three days later after various reports from people who read the paper.
Swipe to the next slide...
Source #2: The Scientist
The Scientist is an online magazine where readers can gain access to interesting advances in science explained in lay terms.
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In this example, we will be focusing on an article titled "Stem Cell Editing Repairs Severe Immunodeficiency." [9]
Swipe to the next slide...
Rationale
Authority
Date
Accuracy
Relevance
Relevance means that the information provided by the source adds to your understanding of the topic.
Imagine you are studying the disease tuberculosis and came across this article from National Geographic [10]. Your goal is to give a presentation on what causes the disease, how it spreads, the current situation, and preventative measures against it.
Relevance is largely subjective, but generally:
1. It should provide information related to the topic it claims to share information about.
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2. It should align with your own research/learning goals.
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If we look back to the National Geographic article about TB, the article gives a good overview of the topics that you were looking for, but lots of details are missing. There are also a limited number of sources that the article makes reference to [10].
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If your goal is to learn about what tuberculosis is and why cases are rising, this would be a good source because it is comprehensive and easy to understand.
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However, since your goal in this case is to give a more detailed presentation, this source can only serve as a starting point and you will need to look for other sources to find more relevant information. For example, you want to introduce the organism that causes tuberculosis. The article states “the disease is caused by a highly contagious bacterial infection,” but what bacteria [10]? This requires more research on your end, which makes this article not a very relevant source to pinpoint this information.
Hopefully, by this point you are able to understand how each letter of the RADAR method is used to evaluate the validity of a source. When you feel confident, proceed to the next lesson where you will get to assess, on your own, the validity of a given source.
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