Source-Based Case Study Question (Reliability)
Humanities Combined Social Studies
2272, 2273(3E); 2175, 2176 (3NA)
Reliability is about how much we can trust or not trust a piece of information.
Reliability require students to corroborate or cross-refer. This means that cross referring or cross-
checking the information with:
Your background knowledge on the topic,
Other reliable sources
Looking deeper in the motive or purpose of the source.
Corroboration or cross-referencing is a process that takes place when you read a source and ask
yourself whether the source is reliable. You take into account details across multiple sources to
determine points of agreement (i.e. consistency) of points of disagreement (i.e. contradictions).
You may suspect that a source is unreliable is the following occurs:
There are factual errors.
There are exaggerated comments.
It was written immediately after an event when emotions run high and rational thought was
lacking.
However, you must still cross reference with another source, to prove its reliability, you cannot allow
external knowledge to influence your answer.
This is a Source-Based Case Study, any perspective must be made from the array of sources. Not
Do take note that reliability consists of two other skills you have learnt previously:
Basic Inference
Comparison
Using skills of inference, cross-referencing and comparing, you are to evaluate the reliability of the
source.
Signs of sources being unreliable through cross-referencing would be:
he other sources.
The source was produced for a particular purpose which may impact its reliability.
Literary Devices, or specifically hyperboles can make the source seem exaggerated, thereby
causing it to seem extremely emotional and hence causing the source to seem unreliable.
Types of Reliability Questions and Question Stems
Reliability-type questions make up the following form:
Is one of these Sources more
To what extent does Source A show that Source B is unreliable?
There are two variations of reliability questions:
Types of Question What is Required
One without an issue in the question Evaluate the reliability with more
flexibility
Study Source D.
How reliable is Source D? Explain your answer.
One with an issue in the question Note: This question has a focus
You cannot deviate away from
Study Source E.
the focus.
Can you believe that importing foreign talents is
the answer to low birth rates in Singapore? Otherwise, you risk getting a zero
Explain your answer. or the entire question
Concept of Reliability
Think of reliability as having a degree of truth and that there exists various test which are used to
find out how truthful or reliable they are.
Tests for Reliability
Inference
1. Cross-refer with another source
(Any Source can be used unless otherwise stated)
2. Finding out the purpose or motive of the source.
3. Source of the content the way something is said
or what words phrases, imagery or literary
devices are used that suggest exaggeration,
understatement, loaded language or falsehood.
Content of the
Source
You have to decide which test of reliability you are going to use to make your case or argument.
Answering Reliability Questions
Some students have difficulty finding a reliable source to cross-refer to. In order to do this well, you
need to do the following:
Contextualise the source by looking at who said it, who was the intended audience, when it
was said, how it was said and the main message the author is trying to say. This helps you
to contextualize the source and decide on which source to use to cross-reference.
Use another a source that is balanced in its arguments because it usually shows a rational
and logical argument.
Below would be some phrases you can use and the questions you need to ask yourself when
performing such tests.
Description Example and/or Questions Asked
Cross refer (other sources) to Look for other sources that supports or contradicts:
show/explain how it supports Reliable sources cross-referred source supports
or contradicts Source A Unreliable sources cross-referred sources contradicts
Examples:
This is supported/contradicted by Source B because
[source evidence from Source B] This is evident when
the
Source A is reliable because Source B supports Source
Source A is unreliable because the evidence in Source B
contradicts the evidence of Source A by suggesting
Explain the purpose of the Look at Provenance of the Source and Background Information
source to show how it this is to identify the
supports, contradicts or Author
contextualises Source A Cartoonist
Target Audience
From there, you can further find the purpose, however we must
ask these questions first:
Where and When was the source created?
What actions did the author hope the audience will take after
reading the source.
What are the / Is there vMAO for the source?
V Verb
M Message
A Audience
O Outcome
The most important part of (a) The action / feeling it may invoke (e.g. shock, disgust, anger,
doing this is to demonstrate rationlise, pressurise, influence, etc.)
your understanding is (b) The message the author wants to convey
through vMAO. (c) The audience (i.e. who the source was intended for)
(d) The outcome or intended impact or action (e.g. condemn,
Recall your skills of Inference support, protest, encourage)
with Purpose to help answer
the question if you would like Use the format of Inference with Purpose to aid you
to use this test
Explain the motive of the Look at Provenance of the Source and Background Information
source to show how it this is to identify the
supports, contradicts or Author
contextualises Source A Cartoonist
Target Audience
From there, you can further find the motive there, however we
must ask these questions first:
Is there something the person is trying to gain (motive) from
writing the source?
Was there some sort of personal gain that could influence
the content of the source?
Does the motive of the author match the content?
The most important part of V Verb
doing this is to demonstrate M Message
your understanding is A Audience
through vMAO. O Outcome
Recall your skills of Inference (a) The action / feeling it may invoke (e.g. shock, disgust, anger,
with Purpose to help answer rationlise, pressurise, influence, etc.)
the question if you would like (b) The message the author wants to convey
to use this test (c) The audience (i.e. who the source was intended for)
(d) The outcome or intended impact or action (e.g. condemn,
support, protest, encourage)
Use the format of Inference with Purpose to aid you.
Loaded Language Are there any overly emotional words which support or do
(Exaggerated words / not support the source?
phrases)
There could be hyperboles or the choice of tone which could have
caused the source to be highly exaggerated. This would then
show how biased the author was being, as they could be
emotional whilst writing the source, hence affecting its reliability,
thereby making it unreliable as a source.
Use the basic format to help you write this source.
Format to Answer Reliability Questions
Basic Format
Paragraph 1 (Stand & Content of the source in Question):
Source A is reliable / unreliable
Stand
Inference / Message
Evidence from Source
Explanation
Paragraph 2 (Using Cross Reference)
Source B* is reliable / unreliable [Stand] because it is supported / contradicted by Source
B* .
Consistent Stand
Inference / Message
Evidence from Source
Explanation
Altered Format (With Inference With Purpose)
Paragraph 1 (Stand & Content of the source in Question):
Source A is reliable / unreliable
[Inference / Message] so that they
Stand
vMAO (Inference)
Evidence from Source
Explanation
Stating the Context and Explaining the Outcome [Linking Evidence and Inference]
Paragraph 2 (Using Cross Reference)
Source B* is reliable / unreliable [Stand] because it is supported / contradicted by Source B*.
[Explain the Outcome]
Consistent Stand
vMAO (Inference)
Evidence from Source
Explanation
Stating the Context and Explaining the Outcome [Linking Evidence and Inference]
* You are allowed to use any source in the SBCS, unless specifically stated otherwise.
Therefore you must look at what sources you are required to study, as stated by the question.
Sample Question and Answer
Based on Page 123 124 of the Textbook.
Study Source D. How reliable is Source D? Explain your answer.
Source D is not reliable [Stand] in saying that a poverty line is ineffective in helping Singaporeans
with low income because the government is already giving sufficient help. [Inference] This is seen
is actively helping those in need. [Explanation]
Source D is unreliable [Consistent Stand] because it is contradicted by Source B [Cross
Reference]. Source B says that a poverty line would help the government to identify families in need
and plan the resources efficiently to help those families. [Inference] This is seen in Source B, in
support, and provide a benchmark for how the country can improve the on-the-
[Evidence] This suggest that a poverty line would help the government to plan their resources more
effectively to help the needy. [Explanation]
Analysis:
As seen above, there is a direct difference between the inferences of the two sources, this should
