Q. How do I evaluate my sources?

Not all information is equally valuable. Any information should be carefully examined to determine its usefulness and quality.

1. Evaluating Web Sites

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is the author an authority or expert on the subject?
• What is the author's agenda? Are they trying to sell an idea or product?
• Do they use evidence to support fact claims, ideas, or opinions?
• Is the information current?

2. Evaluating Articles and Books

Authority

• What are the author's credentials, educational background, experience, past writings?
• Is the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars.

Date of Publication

• Is currency important to your research?
• If so, when was the source published?
• Topics in the sciences and business often demand current information. Topics in the humanities may require older material.

Objectivity

• Is the information supported by facts and evidence, or is it someone's opinion?

Accuracy and Quality of Content

• Can the information be verified by other sources?
• How does the information compare with other sources?
• If it is a book, what do book reviewers have to say?

Additional Method for Evaluating Sources

• CRAAP Criteria, which looks at Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose