Final answer:
The claim that authorship is not important as long as the information is correct is false. Understanding the author's credibility, purpose, and the context of the source significantly impacts its reliability and is essential for proper research and critical evaluation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Knowing who writes the source isn't important, as long as the information is correct' is false. The credibility of a source and its appropriateness for your research depend on authorship and the purpose of the information. It is essential to determine whether the source is intended to inform or persuade, as well as to separate fact from opinion. Moreover, evaluating the reliability and validity of information requires investigating the writer's qualifications, biases, the time it was written, and how it is viewed by others in the field. Therefore, knowing who writes the source is integral to the process of critical evaluation and cannot be overlooked.
It is also important to differentiate between the writer's words and ideas and those of the original sources to ensure accurate interpretation and attribution. Recognizing the author's background can help in identifying potential biases which might affect their interpretation of facts and presentation of arguments. Additionally, locating the date of publication is crucial to understand the context in which the information was judged to be true.