Evaluation of General Sources

https://pixabay.com/en/google-search-engine-76522/

As stated in my previous post about my field of study, I am very interested in the field of sports medicine. A big controversy in medicine today is the use of stem cells, and in sports, those cells can be used to repair life changing injuries. The first source I chose to use on the controversy was more of an introductory source that had a list of pros/cons on the subject matter.

• The URL of the source ends in .com; typically, .com usually means the site is commercialized and/or profits from its existence, so that makes it a little less credible, but as I will soon discuss, I was able to over look that small factor.
• While the website is commercialized, the author who actually wrote the article had substantially impressive credentials. Theresa Phillips is a Doctor in the area of biotechnology and biomedical research; so, in others words, she knows what she is talking about when it comes to biology and cells. The hyperlink to her name allows you to view her credentials.
• The web page is updated daily with stories from different authors. Unfortunately, there is no specific date on this particular article, but it discuss the latest developments in the field by providing working links to other sources.
• The purpose of this text is to inform readers about stem cell research as well as the pros and cons associated with the controversy. They are not selling products, nor are they trying to persuade anybody.
• There are graphics, and most of them are of cells to help illustrate the concept of stem cell research.
• The source provides both sides of the argument, so it does not seem to be obviously biased; the article can be fact checked on other print and web sources, but there does not seem to be an obvious group or person that profits on people that agree with the post. 
• As far as links go, there are many other links and hyperlinks that the author's post provides, and it does use a form of citations that can be related back to other authorities in the field.

https://pixabay.com/en/stem-cell-sphere-163711/

The second source that I chose was more tailored to my specific discipline in sports medicine. 

• This URL ended in a .org and is from a website called The American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons. The .org implies it was purchased by the previously mentioned organization, so it makes it more of a credible source.
• The author of the source is Mary Ann Porucznik, and her credentials are that she is the managing editor of the website. She can also be e-mailed.
• The news section of the website was last updated September 1st, and this particular post was in the April 2014 issue. There are additional links on the page that yes, do work, and help determine if the material is out of date (which it is not). 
• The purpose of the text is to exemplify how stem cells are used in the field of orthopedics, which is commonly linked to sports medicine. However, it also discusses ethical issues as well. 
• There is one graphic, and it is there to help identify another individual that the author mentioned in her text.
• Mary does not offer a specific stance on stem cells in the field, but does note that it is difficult to experiment with the current restrictions and legislations on stem cell research.
• As stated earlier, there are links for further research, and there are multiple in-text citations.