Evaluating Sources

Using the 5Ws and H to Quickly Evaluate Sources

You can learn a lot about a source by using this super simple but seriously effective method for gathering information about a source. Ask these six basic questions when evaluating your source: what, where, when, who, why and how.

As you look for other materials beyond your original source, consider additional questions to help you assess the information you found.

Your source: Basic 5Ws & H

• What does it say or is the main point? (topic relevance)
• Where was it published/posted? (scholarly journal, website, news source, social media)
• When was it published/posted? (current events, historical context, or simply outdated)
• Who is the author/creator? (expert, scholar, journalist, advertiser/influencer, non-profit, corporation, government)
• Why does it exist? (sell, persuade, politicize, research, educate, entertain)
• How does it incorporate evidence? (references/works cited, quotes, charts/graphs, methods, original research, personal experience)

Assessing Beyond the Source: More 5Ws & H

• What other information can you find about this topic? (search engines, fact checker sites, your library)
• Where did you access it? (book, blog, journal article, library database, news source, tweet, web page)
• When was the information changed (updated, revised, corrected, altered)
• Who is missing from the conversation (opposing viewpoints, subject experts, global perspectives)
• Why do you need this information (homework assignment, work presentation, share on social media, personal understanding, decision making, activism)
• How did the information find you? How did you react? (filters, bots, search engine algorithms, cookies, advertising, social media

The Source and Beyond the Source was created by DePaul University Library.