PBS is an educational resource without corporate affiliations. It advertises itself as a resource that “serves the American public with programming and services of the highest quality, using media to educate, inspire, entertain and express a diversity of perspectives” (PBS, 2018).
Possible limitations of the site
The information on this page has been put together through Frontline, a public affairs series that PBS sponsors. This site is an informative one, and because it is not affiliated with an organization that has a specific political or business agenda, it should offer a variety of information, representing different perspectives about treating ADHD. However, PBS is a popular source with a lay audience. Although it references scientific studies and interviews scientists, it does not present the studies themselves. Furthermore, PBS relies on monetary support from viewers, so, like a newspaper or magazine, it may foreground more sensational or controversial information. Therefore, any arguments you make about treating ADHD should draw from scholarly sources as well, and you want to make sure you read any articles mentioned on this site in their entirety.
The purpose of this site is to inform care givers about their options for treating a child with ADHD. Because the company is a for‐profit company that manufactures and sells pharmaceuticals, one purpose of this site is to present pharmaceuticals as an attractive option for treating ADHD.
Possible limitations of the site
Because Supernus ultimately wants to sell pharmaceuticals, it is more likely to include information that shows the benefits of drugs for children diagnosed with ADHD. This site also offers information about therapy and behavioral management as treatment options; and it cites a number of scholarly sources, which increases the strength of its coverage. However, because it is a popular source that targets lay people and is sponsored by a company that wants to sell the product it describes, any arguments you make about treating ADHD should draw from scholarly sources as well.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Site's purpose
The NIMH website states that the mission of NIMH is “to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure” (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2011). The purpose of the NIMH website is to provide information related to mental health issues.
Possible limitations of the site
This site has links to a wide variety of information, and its informative purpose indicates that, like the PBS site, you would find useful coverage of different perspectives about ADHD. Additionally, the site links to resources such as scholarly publications—although the publications are not part of the NIMH site—which strengthens the site's credibility. Nevertheless, the information is directed to a lay audience, so this site alone would not provide sufficient evidence to support a scholarly argument.
Knowing the purpose of a site's existence can point to the possible biases or assumptions that shape its content. For example, the third URL does not contain a company's name, but a pharmaceutical corporation sponsors the site. Although the company ultimately wants to sell pharmaceuticals, the information is not necessarily inaccurate; however, it could mean that some facts are highlighted whereas others are deemphasized. Knowing this will help you ascertain the credibility and accuracy of the information on the site.
Asking the questions we have offered in this chapter—both for popular and scholarly sources and for websites—will help you identify biases or assumptions in the information presented. You might also find some ideas or perspectives that have been left out or with which you disagree. Noting these limitations will not only help you determine the kind of source you have found, it will also give you insight into the credibility and validity of the author's (or authors') argument. However, remember that all research is based on biases and assumptions and that almost any area of psychology will have reputable scholars who disagree about the best methodology or hypothesis, or how to interpret results. Thus, identifying limitations does not necessarily mean that the source is invalid. Rather, it may have strengths you can draw on and weaknesses that you should consider when developing a hypothesis, structuring an experiment, and supporting your claims.
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