As you gather your sources, be critical about the information you include in your finished product. Select the most reliable sources that do the best job of answering your topic or your research question. Analyze the information and identify any strengths, weaknesses, contradictions and gaps in the research. Look for patterns, connections, trends, and generalizations in the information.
Some helpful tips:
- Evaluate everything you find. Remember not everything you read online is reliable. Evaluate the resources you use in your assignment.
- Carefully consider websites. There are no rules about what can be posted online and you must determine if a website has value.
- Evaluate journal articles critically. Just because journal articles are published in academic journals does not mean that they shouldn't be evaluated. Take a look at the article sections and evaluate information shared by the authors.
How to Evaluate Your Sources
Now that you know why it's important to evaluate your sources, you need to know how to evaluate them. Watch the video below for more information on how to evaluate a source before you decide to use it for your assignment.
"Evaluating Sources: How to Evaluate Sources" by Purdue Libraries is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Evaluating Sources: How to Evaluate Sources - Transcript
Evaluation Checklist
Consider the following evaluation criteria, some of which are discussed in the video above, to assess the quality and appropriateness of your sources.
Authority
- Who is the author or creator? What are their credentials and affiliations?
- Is the publisher or journal known and reputable?
Publisher
- Who is the publisher? Are they reputable? Is it an academic press?
Accuracy
- Does the author provide references to support their statements?
- Is the source peer-reviewed? (Has the information been verified by other professionals or researchers in the field?)
Currency
- What is the publication date of the resource?
- How current does your information need to be?
- Is the information outdated?
- Is it a key historical piece of literature on your topic?
Coverage
- Who is the audience: the general public, professionals, or researchers?
- Is the information general or in-depth?
- Is the journal or resource in your subject area?
Point of View
- Is the information balanced and without bias? What perspective is the information written from (a topic may have a number of perspectives that you would like to consider)?
- Does the author have a specific goal or objective? (For example: to persuade, to entertain, to inform?)
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