Evaluating Sources
Who? Who wrote the information?
- Are they an expert in the field they’re writing about?
- Are they someone who might be biased?
When? When was it published?
- How old is the information?
- Could this be outdated? Know important dates related to your topic.
Where? Where was it published?
- Does it appear in a scholarly journal?
- Is the publisher or sponsor a reputable source?
What? What is the information really about?
- What is the main argument?
- Is the information relevant to your topic?
Why? Why did they write information?
- Are they trying to persuade you of a point, sell you something, or present objective information? Watch for bias.
- Who is the intended audience?
How? How did they get their information?
- Do they cite their sources?
- Are the sources they used credible?
These factors may not apply to every situation equally. For example: an older scholarly journal article may not be appropriate for a paper on current controversies, but it could be relevant to a historical approach to the topic. Use your best judgment, and ask a librarian if you’re sure about a source.
