Evaluating Sources (click for printer-friendly version)
It is important to critically evaluate each source intended for use in supporting papers, speeches, projects, etc. There are five traditional evaluation criteria:
- Accuracy
- Authority
- Objectivity
- Currency
- Coverage
EVALUATING PRINT RESOURCES
Print Resources include books, periodicals (journals and magazines), and reference books (encyclopedias, dictionaries). Print materials undergo a selection process in order to be published, are reviewed (by librarians or peer reviewers in a discipline or field), and are ultimately selected by librarians for inclusion in their collections. Even though books and journals are subjected to scrutiny, students should still evaluate each source accordingly.
Accuracy
- How reliable and free from error is the information?
- Are facts and statistics verifiable?
- Is there a bibliography or list of sources used?
- Are there editors and fact checkers?
Authority
- What are the author's qualifications or credentials for writing on the subject?
- Is the author affiliated with a reputable organization, institution, or company?
- Is there contact information provided for the author of the document?
- Can you tell who wrote the article or webpage?
- Who is the publisher?
Objectivity
- Is the information presented with a minimum of bias?
- Does the author have a particular point-of-view or agenda?
- To what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience?
- Can you determine if the information is opinion, propaganda, or fact?
Currency
- Is this the most current information on your topic?
- Is the content of the work up-to-date?
- When was the information published (copyright date)? Is this the latest edition?
- In some subjects or areas, anything older than a year is considered out-dated.
Coverage
- What topics are included in the work?
- To what depth are topics explored?
- Are there noticeable omissions?
Traditional publishing of books, journals, and online subscription databases provides a safety net between the information and user, which includes some or all of the following:
- Author
- Fact checker
- Editor
- Publisher
- Reviewer
- Librarian
- User (you)
