Global Warming Article: Step Four

Step Four:
Choose one of the questions and read the answer. Verify the answer using another online source.
Q8: Isn't global warming "just a theory"?

A8: That the temperature is rising is an observation (more specifically, the summary of many observations). The explanation for this observation is a scientific theory. This is different from the common use of "theory" to mean a guess or supposition. A scientific theory is a coherent set of explanations that is compatible with the known observations, that allows predictions to be made, and that has a number of other properties (see the above linked article). A theory that makes verifiable predictions that turn out to be correct gains credibility. Strictly speaking, science does not prove anything. A theory is the best it can provide.

VERIFYING
Name of page: "Just a Theory": 7 Misused Science Words
Address/URL: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=just-a-theory-7-misused-science-words
Date Accessed: June 2, 2013
How did you find the page?
Google
DOMAIN
What is the domain of the page?
.com
Do you feel that the domain type helps add to or lessen the page’s credibility?
It is a commercial site which adds some credibility to it.
AUTHOR/AUTHORITY
Is the author of the page identified?
Tia Ghose and LiveScience
Is the author of the page an individual?
Both
If no individual author is identified, is the corporation, institution, organization or group responsible for the web site clearly identified?
Scientific American is responsible for the site.
 
If the author is an individual:
Is the author clearly affiliated with a corporation, institution, organization or group?
Yes, LiveScience
If so, does this affiliation lend credibility to the author?
Yes.
Are the author’s educational, occupational or other credentials identified?
No.
Is the author a professional in the field or a layperson interested in the subject?
Don't know.
Does the author present any other evidence that supports his/her ability to accurately present the information that he/she is presenting?
No.
Does the author display any obvious bias (religious, political, commercial or other)?
Is "grammar nazi" a bias?
Is the author the original creator of the information presented?
Yes.
Does the author provide his/her contact information (usually an e-mail address)?
No.
In conclusion, do you feel that the author is qualified to present the information found on his/her web page?
No.
INTENT
Is the purpose of the page clearly stated?
Yes.

What is or appears to be the purpose of the page?
To inform people of the proper definitions of words.

Does the page contain advertisements?  Do the ads distract from the page’s content, affect the page’s reliability, or appear to be the main focus of the page?  Might they be necessary to support the organization responsible for the page?
Yes, it contains advertising. They are science related, but not distracting.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
Who appears to be the intended audience for this information/page?
General population looking for information on global warming.
Does the level or complexity of information provided, the vocabulary used, and the overall tone of the information/page match your needs?
Yes

CURRENTNESS
When was the information on the page created or last updated?
April 2, 2013
Are the dates of articles, news stories, newsletters, reports and other publications given?
Yes.
Is the page properly maintained or does it have broken links, outdated events calendars or other signs of neglect?
Properly maintained.

RELIABILITY
Is the content peer-reviewed, authenticated by experts, or subject to some sort of editorial scrutiny?
There is a comments section.
Does the page display any awards given by reliable sources, or link to favorable site reviews by reliable sources?
No.
Considering your answers to the previous questions, other observations you’ve made, and your overall sense of the page, how reliable does this source seem?
This does not seem a reliable source, but it does explain the vocabulary.