When researching, it’s important to analyze and evaluate your sources for credibility, accuracy, bias, and usefulness. Here are some things to think about and ask yourself when evaluating your sources.
- What:
- What type of source is it? (ex: scholarly journal article, newspaper article, website, etc.)
- What is the scope of the coverage? Is it a general overview or an in-depth analysis?
- What sources does the author cite?
- What biases or assumptions may have influenced the author?
- Who:
- Who is the author? What are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Who is the publisher and/or sponsor of the source?
- Where/When:
- Where did the source come from? (ex: a library database, a textbook, Google Scholar, a blog, etc.)
- When was the source published or posted? Has the information been revised or updated?
- Why:
- Why was this source created? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade?
- How:
- How does this source compare to other similar sources?
- How is this source relevant to your research?
