EVALUATING SOURCES

Published on March 3, 2021 | 5 minute read

"Don't believe everything you read" is true for information that you find in books, online, on social media, or anywhere. Even if a webpage looks professional and links to sources, it doesn't mean it's true and accurate.

Knowing how to assess if the information is true is a vital skill, now more than ever.

Books

When publishers controlled publishing, they could face expensive lawsuits if they printed false or slanderous information. Publishers would not publish books or articles that were not accurate and had a review process that kept authors honest.

Publishers still do a good job of reviewing information that they print. However, some publishers have a reputation for printing "sensational novels, conspiracy theories, or supermarket tabloids.

Self-publishing is on the rise because a print book can be printed, and e-books can be uploaded to Amazon for a low cost.

Here are 7 questions to ask to determine if a book is useful for your assignment.

Does the author give credit to other research?
Academic work shows its credibility by building upon the work of earlier experts or researchers. Other research will be credited in the references or bibliography and with in-text citations.

Can the book or journal be found in university libraries?
If academic libraries purchase the book and public libraries do not, it is written for an academic audience.

Is the book or journal in library databases?
If book reviews or articles are in academic databases, it can suggest that the material is scholarly.

Is the book or article written by an expert?
If the author is cited in other textbooks or articles, this suggests they are an expert in their field. Scholarly books and articles normally list an author's academic credentials and any academic affiliation.

When was the book or article published?
In technology fields such as nursing, a five-year-old book may be obsolete, while literary criticism may be valid for generations.

Is the publisher known for academic publications?
If a publisher has expertise in editing and distributing to a specialized market, they probably stand behind the accuracy of anything they publish.

Do research methods, and evidence used by the author seem consistent with other books and articles you have read?
If the book or article contradicts what you have read before, this may be a warning sign to doubt the information.

Webpages

In the United States, there is minimal governmental editing or censorship of what is posted on the internet. Webpages that are outdated, unsupported, pranks, fake news, and conspiracy theories thrive on the internet. Websites need to be checked to verify that you can use them for your assignments.

Here are 10 questions to ask to determine if a webpage can be used for your assignments. If you cannot answer any question on this list, you may want to avoid using the webpage.

Does the webpage have references and citations for other sources the author used?
Academic work shows its credibility by building upon the work of earlier experts or researchers. The author should credit other research and works.

Is an organization or author responsible for the webpage?
An organization or scholar affiliated with a university or major corporation will take great pains only to publish truthful work. Their reputation for knowledge and accuracy is fundamental to their success.

Is the web address a .gov or .edu?
These two domain file extensions are limited to the United States government and higher education institutions. The information posted on these sites is almost always accurate.

Webpages for organizational and company sites (.org and .com) are open to any special interest. These webpages must be evaluated based on the reputation of the organization or company.

When was the site created or last updated?
Many trustworthy webpages do not provide dates or only provide the range of dates when the pages were created. However, if you require current information, look for pages with a posted, created, or edited date.

Can you determine the purpose of the page?
Webpages have different purposes: to provide information, (2) to promote beliefs or a community; (3) to sell a product or services, or (4) to entertain. Only the first category is likely to be committed to truth and acknowledge different viewpoints.

Do the methods and evidence cited by the author seem consistent with other sources you have read?
If the research method or results are unusual, the information may be bogus.

Does the website have spelling, grammar, or math errors?
If you are using the webpage to support your academic paper, it should be correct in every way. This shows the person who wrote it is educated and knowledgeable.

Can you determine the intended audience?
Pages for high school students are easy to understand but should not be cited in a college academic paper.

Do other webpages refer to this webpage?
While links do not validate the content, if a tool such as Alexa.com shows hundreds of links to a site, it indicates other webpage creators have found the page noteworthy.

Does the content appear to be plagiarized?
Many websites copy entire articles from Wikipedia or other webpages without providing any credit to the original source.

References

Beck, S. E. (2009). Evaluation criteria. Retrieved from New Mexico State University Library website: http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

Branham, C. (1998). A student's guide to WWW research: Web searching, Web page evaluation, and research strategies. Retrieved from Saint Louis University, Department of English website: http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/ENG/cai/research

Head, A. J., & Eisenberg, M. B. (2010). Truth be told: How college students evaluate and use information in the digital age (Project Information Literacy Progress Report). Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED535166.pdf

Purdue University. (2010). Evaluating information sources. Retrieved from http://gemini.lib.purdue.edu/core/files/evaluating4.html

Virginia Tech University Libraries. (2013). Evaluating Internet information. Evaluating webpages for research. Retrieved from http://www.lib.vt.edu/instruct/evaluate

IS IT CLEAR?

The checklist provides five basic aspects of a source that should be evaluated before the information is used for academic purposes.

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Credibility - Reliability and Trustworthiness

Who is the author?
- What are their qualifications and expertise in the subject matter?
- Do they have a history of publishing reliable and accurate information?
What is the publication?
- Is it a reputable and well-known publisher or organization?
- Does the publication have a history of credibility and reliability?
Is the information current?
- When was the information published or last updated?
- Is the information still relevant and accurate, given recent developments?
Is there evidence of bias?
- Does the author or publication have a known bias or agenda?
- Is the information presented in a balanced and objective manner?

Language - Clarity of Language

Is the language clear and concise?
- Are the main points easy to understand?
- Is the information free from jargon or technical terms that are not explained?
- Is the language used neutral, or does it show signs of bias (e.g., emotionally charged words)?
Is the tone appropriate for the audience?
- Does the language match the level of formality required for the topic?
- Is the tone respectful and unbiased?
- Does the tone suggest any bias or attempt to manipulate the audience’s emotions?
Are there any grammatical or spelling errors
- Do errors distract from the content or undermine its professionalism?
- Is the information well-edited and polished?
- Do errors or inconsistencies suggest a lack of credibility or bias?

Evidence - Evidence or Data

What types of evidence are provided?
- Are there references, statistics, or case studies that support the claims?
- Is the evidence from credible and reliable sources?
- Is the evidence selectively presented to support a particular bias?
Is the evidence relevant and sufficient?
- Does the evidence directly support the main points?
- Is there enough evidence to substantiate the claims made?
- Is there any evidence that contradicts the claims, and if so, is it acknowledged?
How is the evidence presented?
- Is the evidence presented in a clear and logical manner?
- Are there visual aids (charts, graphs, tables) that help illustrate the points?
- Are visual aids used in a way that might mislead or bias the audience?

Audience - Target Audience

Who is the target audience?
- Is the information tailored to a specific group of people?
- Does the content address the needs and interests of the target audience?
- Is the information designed to appeal to a particular bias or viewpoint of the audience?
Is the language and style appropriate for the audience?
- Is the complexity of the language suitable for the audience’s level of understanding?
- Does the style of presentation engage the audience effectively?
- Does the style of presentation cater to the biases or preferences of the audience?
Does the information meet the audience’s expectations?
- Does it provide the depth of information the audience is looking for?
- Are the audience’s questions and concerns addressed?
- Is the information presented in a way that reinforces the audience’s existing biases?

Relevance

How does the information align with your needs?
- Does it answer your specific questions or address your concerns?
- Is it directly related to the topic you are researching or interested in?
Is the information applicable to your context?
- Can you apply the information to your situation or decision-making process?
- Is it relevant to the current time and circumstances?
- Is the relevance of the information affected by any biases?
Does the information add value to your understanding?
- Does it provide new insights or perspectives?
- Does it help you make informed decisions or enhance your knowledge?
- Does the information challenge or reinforce your existing viewpoint?