Evaluating Sources
You can begin to assess the usefulness of your search results even before you read the sources you've found.
Evaluating what you're finding as you search is an important part of the research process.
How do you know if a source is worthwhile?
- Currency: Is the publication date appropriate for your topic?
- Relevance: Who is the intended audience? Does the information help answer your question?
- Authority: Do the author credentials, organizational affiliation, and publisher indicate expertise?
- Accuracy: Is the information reliable and supported by evidence or peer-review?
- Purpose: Does the information exist as fact, opinion, propaganda, or bias?
- More tips on source evaluation:
- Evaluating Sources from the Harvard Guide to Using Sources.
