Evaluating the sources found during research is very important. Evaluating helps to ensure you have reliable information for your assignment.
There are many methods you can use to evaluate your sources. The following is how CCCS librarians recommend you evaluate sources.
- Authority
- Who is the author? Are they an expert in the field? Have they published before? Do they have degrees in the field?
- Google their name to find out these answers
- Coverage
- Does it provide an overview or specifics of your topic?
- You likely only need one overview source for your assignment since most overview articles on this topic should be similar
- If it is specific, find several similar articles to help you discuss more details in your assignment
- If you need a total of 4 sources, you should have 1 overview source and 3 specific sources
- Objectivity and Bias
- Is it objective? Does it just provide facts?
- Is it biased? Does it try to convince you that the author's side is the correct information without providing counter arguments?
- The easiest way to determine objectivity and bias is to find more sources. Then, compare those sources with each other.
- Accuracy
- Is it accurate?
- The easiest way to determine accuracy is to find more sources. Then, compare those sources with each other.
- Currency
- Is it current?
- It depends on your assignment instructions and your topic.
- Some topics require very recent sources (science and technology) while other topics accept older sources (history).