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Reliability Skills - O Level Social Studies
Reliability Skills - O Level Social Studies
Reliability Skills - O Level Social Studies
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Reliability Skills
SBQ Practice: Reliability Skills
For reliability questions, what we are seeking to do is to CHECK the reliability of the
BASE source stated in the question. There are 2 main reliability-check tests.
1. Cross reference
2. Critical analysis of provenance looking at its purpose
With these 2 tests in mind, there are a few steps that we should take when tackling
such questions:
Step 2: State the STAND of the base source. (I.e. what does the base source say about
the ISSUE at hand? If the question does not state the issue to be examined, we must
define the issue we are testing the source on.)
Step 3: Do a cross reference to support the base source (if we say it’s reliable) or to
contradict the source (if we say it is not reliable)
However, it may not be that reliable as source C contradicts it. This is seen in C
where…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… implying
………………..
Looking at its purpose, it may not be reliable. Source A’s purpose is to let the
audience know that ………message + evidence……………….. Through this the author
hopes to convince the audience so that they will…..outcome/do…………Thus looking at
its purpose, the author has an incentive to be biased as ….explain the incentive…….
therefore making it unreliable
1. Honestly there is no one fixed format. And sometimes trying to stick to one format
may be confusing and even illogical. For example, sometimes we may not even need
to examine the source based on its’ purpose and critical analysis of provenance as
the exam setter may deem the source as having no significant purpose.
2. But rest assured that in any reliability question, there will always be marks
rewarded for cross reference. Therefore more importantly, that means we must do
CROSS reference!!!!
3. But before cross reference, we must let the marker know what does the BASE source
say first. Above all, this is the principle thing: the base source inference!
4. Ultimately, we should reach a point where we understand and apply the principles
of reliability tests. The principles are as below:
Look at the base source and ask ourselves what it says regarding the issue we are
examining it on
Then see whether the other sources support or contradict the base source regarding
the issue
Finally, ask ourselves does the base source has enough information (the message
and the provenance) to let us deduce the purpose with confidence. If it does, go
ahead with the purpose test.
To want to know the other essential Source-Based Skills needed to excel in Social
Studies, it is found under the RESOURCES page.