When you’re doing research, you’ll want to consider your sources from several angles to determine if they’re appropriate for your project. You’ll want to consider the reliability and currency of the source, as well as its relevance and appropriateness for your purposes. Below are some frameworks for evaluating sources.
| Authority | Bias | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| The source of the information | The purpose and viewpoint of the information | Timeliness of the information |
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Who is the author, publisher, source, or sponsor? What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliation? Is the author qualified to write on the topic? |
What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform? to teach? to sell? to entertain? Does the author/sponsor make their intentions/purpose clear? Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda? Does the point of view appear objective? Are multiple perspectives included?
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Does your topic require current or historical information? When was the information published/posted? Has it been revised or updated? |
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What do others say about the resource? You may not want to rely solely on what the source presents about itself. Hint: Using a library database will give you important information about the reliability/authority of a source. |
What bias do you bring to the topic? Are you looking for sources that confirm your current beliefs? |
Are the links functional? Is it free of grammar/spelling errors? |