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Evaluating Material

Evaluating Sources of Information

Researchers need to evaluate information sources for relevance, reliability, and objectivity. Consider the points listed below when judging the quality of information of all sources. Also look at specific information for the evaluation of books, articles, or websites.

• Author's Qualifications or Credentials
• Is there an identified author?
• What is the author's occupation, position, or affiliation?
• What is his/her educational background?
• Is he/she qualified to write the article or book?
• Is this information based on the author's specialized knowledge or is it personal opinion?
• Publishing Information
• Who is the publisher and what is their reputation?
• Who is the intended audience for the publication?
• Are periodical articles reviewed (refereed) by experts in the field before publication?
• Is the periodical published by a professional association, a university press, or by a popular press?
• Bias or Objectivity
• Does the author have a particular point of view - religious, political, cultural, or professional - that might bias his/her findings?
• Is the book or article intended to inform or persuade?
• Is the language used inflammatory?
• Does the author present well- reasoned arguments supported by verifiable data?
• Timeliness
• Is the information presented likely to have changed since publication?
• Is the date of publication a factor in your research?
• Length
• Is the length of the article or book appropriate to the level of research?
• Methodology
• What methods were used to obtain data?
• Presentation
• Is the purpose or need for the research clearly stated?
• Does the author provide supporting evidence to back up facts, hypotheses, or arguments?
• Is the author's methodology stated in sufficient detail to be replicated?
• Documentation
• Is a bibliography provided to show where the author obtained information?
• Can information presented be verified by other sources?
• What types of sources are listed? (scholarly or popular?)
• Conclusions
• Are conclusions drawn
• Are they logical and appropriate to the research?
• are they justified by the research or are they skewed or distorted by bias?

Based on information from Janet Dagenais Brown.