Evaluating Sources: Evaluating Sources

Download and use this worksheet to score your source.  This worksheet is another tool to help you determine whether or not your you should use your sources for your paper.

How reliable is this information source? Can you trust and believe it? 

Reliability is directly related to Authority, but does address different issues. Reliability in this context relates to the accuracy and treatment of the information. 

Accuracy:

• Is the information correct, as far as you can tell? Look at several information sources and compare them.
• Does the author cite his or her sources? Does it have a complete bibliography?
• Were primary or secondary sources used?
• Does it appear to be well edited? Do you see poor grammar, nonstandard language or misspelled words?
• If your information source is a web site, what is the origin of the source? The domain, or last part of the web address, can tell you something about its origin. The most common are:
  • .edu - an educational institution
  • .gov - a government agency
  • .com - a commercial entity
  • .org - a not-for-profit organization

Keep in mind that while .com sites might provide valid information, they are probably more interested in selling something. How reliable is this information source? Can you trust and believe it? 

Objectivity or Bias

• Do you detect a bias on the part of the author in the writing?
• Do the facts support the viewpoint of the author?
• Is it written from an objective viewpoint, or does it appeal to emotions or biases?
• Is the information presented as facts, which can be documented, or opinions of the author?

Bias is not necessarily a bad thing; we all have our own opinions and biases. But you should be aware of them, and take that into consideration when looking at an information source. The National Rifle Association of America and The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence will both give you accurate facts and statistics, but the way they are presented - the bias of the source - will present very different information.

How old is this information? Is there newer information available?

• When was the information published?
• Can you tell when it was published? If it is not dated, you should be cautious of the information source.
• Is that information up-to-date? Have new discoveries been made, or have events taken place since the information was published?
• Is your topic one which is changing quickly, such as medical research or technology, or one which is fairly stable and requires more background information such as history or literature?
• If your information source is a web site, the date of publication and/or last updated date are usually found at the bottom of the page.

Is the information the most complete available? Is it comprehensive? Who is it written for?

• Is the information complete, or is it a summary of other work?
• Is the subject covered completely?
• What level is the information? Is it advanced, technical, basic information?
• Who is the intended audience for the material? Is it popular or scholarly?
• If your information source is a web site, does it include links and are they annotated?

After all is said and done, does the information source answer your questions? Does it "fill your information need?" 

While the other criteria are based on facts, things you can see or find out about your information source, this one is a total judgment call. You must know what information you need, what type of information source you need it to come from, and what you will be using that information for (a final term paper, a short composition, your personal knowledge or information, etc.). 

You must make the judgment as to the relevancy of your information source. Is the information source relevant to your information need? 

It is entirely possible, and highly likely that you will find an item which is very reliable, from a very authoritative source, very current, and very complete... but not relevant to your topic.