Criteria for evaluating sources

1. Evaluating
Sources
Evaluation Criteria for
Seeking Relevant, Useful
and Accurate Information

2. • As you conduct research,
preferably structured
research, evaluate every
single source.
• Your first run through of
evaluation criteria takes place
as you are selecting which
sources to use.

3. When you have additional time,
re-evaluate the source a second
time.
Do not make the mistake of
assuming that because a source is
found in the library that it is a
quality source for an academic
research paper.

4. Evaluation Criteria #1: AUTHORITY
Evaluate sources on the authority of the author
and the publisher by asking the following:
 Who is the author ?
 Can you find the authority or credentials of
the author ?
 Can you find the authority or credentials of
the publisher ?
 What if there is no author for an internet
source ?

5.  If you cannot find information
regarding the authority of the author
or publisher while evaluating sources,
YOU SHOULD NOT USE THE
SOURCES.
 For internet sources without an author,
THE RELIABILITY IS IN
QUESTION.

6.  Websites or publications by
government agencies or well-
established non-profit organizations
are MORE RELIABLE EVEN
WITH THE ABSENCE OF A
NAMED AUTHOR.

7. Evaluation Criteria #2: ACCURACY
Evaluate sources on the accuracy of information and
bibliographic information by asking the following
questions:
 Does the information in the article appear correct ?
 Does the article have a bibliography or reference list ?
 Is it clear where the author got his or her information ?
 Is it obvious who is responsible for the information ?

8. If you cannot verify that the
information is correct or that
the author is an expert on the
topic, YOU SHOULD NOT
USE THE SOURCE.

9. Evaluation Criteria #3: CONTENT
Evaluate sources based on the content by asking the
following questions:
 Does the content address the topic effectively ?
 Are the key questions about your topic answered within
the content ?
 Does the content seem like it is likely to help your
research ?
 Does the content provide any information that is new or
useful ?

10. While evaluating the content is
important, it is not the only evaluation
criteria in deciding to use a source.
However, if the content is lacking or
does not address your topic, YOU
SHOULD NOT USE THE
SOURCE.

11. Evaluation Criteria #4: RELEVANCE
Evaluate sources based on relevance by asking the
following question:
 Is the information and content relevant to your
research paper topic ?
Sometimes a source’s relevancy is not apparent until you
have read all or most of the information. In many
instances, however, you can judge the relevance by
looking at the following aspects of a source:
 TITLE
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 INDEX, when applicable.

12. Evaluation Criteria #5: OBJECTIVITY
Evaluates sources on their objectivity and bias by asking
the following questions:
 Is the objectivity of the source clear ?
 Is there any obvious bias ?
 Is the purpose obvious ?
 Is the sole purpose of the article to give information
or does it promote or try to sell something ?

13.  The nature of your assignment and your
topic determine how important it is for
your sources to be objective.
 A lack of objectivity is not an automatic
reason to dismiss a source if it fits the
assignment and the topic while still
allowing you to find other sources with
opposing viewpoints.

14. Evaluation Criteria #6: AUDIENCE
Evaluate sources based on the intended audience of the
author by asking the following questions:
 What audience does the author appear to be
addressing ?
 Is the intended audience a group of experts or a
more general audience ?
 Is the content too simple, technical or advanced ?
Or is it well-suited to your topic and assignment?

15. The intended audience can
influence your evaluation of
a source, but it should not
be the sole factor in your
decision.

16. Evaluation Criteria #7: WRITING STYLE
Evaluate sources based on the writing style by asking the
following questions:
 Is the organization of the content logical ?
 Is there a clear presentation of the argument ?
 Is the text easy to read ? Too wordy ? Too formal ?
Too informal ? Too choppy ?

17.  The writing style of the author of an
original source influences whether the
source is appropriate for your topic and
assignment.
 If the style does not fit with what you are
trying to accomplish, consider whether
you want to keep the source as one to cite
or to simply use it to consult.

18. Evaluation Criteria #8: CURRENCY
Evaluate sources based on currency by asking the
following questions:
 When was the source published or written ?
 Is the time of publication or writing important for
your topic ?
 Is there more current research available on the same
topic ?
 Is the date evident for any visual aids, such as
graphs, charts or tables ?

19.  Currency is only important if your topic
dictates using the most recent information
available.
 For example, if you are writing a research
paper about the Civil War, currency is not
important. However, if you are writing
about the effect of a 24-hour news cycle
on human sensitivity, currency is
important.

20.  When evaluating sources, your
assignment instructions play an important
role as well because that is what dictates
the type of information you are allowed or
required to use.
 For example, if your instructor prohibits
you from using internet sources that are
not electronic copies of scholarly journal
articles, no website or online multimedia
is appropriate for your assignment, even if
it meets all eight source evaluation
criteria.