Sources should be carefully evaluated to determine their value, usefulness, and appropriateness before being used for a research project.
Here are some things to consider.
| What to look for | Where to find it | |
| Suitability |
Scope and depth: How much information is provided? Audience: Who is it written for? The general public? Specialists? Students? Point of view: Is the information fact-based? Opinion-based? Is it biased? Writing style: Is the language easily understood? Too technical? |
Look for clues about suitability here:
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| Timeliness |
Time frame: Is it appropriate to the topic? Is it the most current information on the topic? Edition or version: Has the material changed from a previous publication? |
Look for clues about timeliness here:
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| Credibility |
Authority: What is the background, education, or credentials of the authors? Affiliation: Are the authors associated with a university? A private corporation? A government agency? Non-profit group? Experience: Is the author considered an authority in the field? Is he or she a working professional? Has he or she published other resources on the topic? Publisher: Is the publisher well-known? Is it a university press? Is it a vanity press? Is it self-published by the author? |
Look for clues about credibility here:
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| Accuracy |
Is the information correct? Can it be corroborated from other, independent sources? References: Are the sources cited that were used to create this item ? |
Look for clues about accuracy here:
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| Usability | What features does the source offer? Is there a table of contents? Index? Illustrations? Appendices? Notes? Bibliography? |
Look for clues about suitability here:
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