Evaluating your sources is an important step in the research process. You need to carefully evaluate each source to determine its appropriateness and quality. There are a number of approaches for evaluating information.
Below is a list of questions to help researchers think critically about the quality of information.
Currency
- When was the information published or posted?
- Is it current enough for your topic?
- Has the information been revised or updated?
- If it's a web-based source, are the links functional?
Relevance
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced?)
- Have you examined a variety of sources before determining to use this one?
- Does the information/source meet your assignment requirements?
Authority
- Who is the author/creator/publisher/sponsor?
- Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations provided? What are they?
- What the author's qualifications or credentials in writing about this subject?
- Does the information provide references or sources of data?
- If it's a web-based source, does the URL reveal anything about the source? Examples include .com .edu .gov
Accuracy
- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Can you verify the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
- Is the content primarily opinion? Or is it balanced with multiple points of view?
- Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
- Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
Purpose
- What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
- Do the authors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?