FAQ: How do I evaluate a source to determine if it's appropriate to use for my assignment?

Evaluating Sources

As you begin your research you will probably find lots of information from many types of sources. When you are in college and in most professional settings after college you will be expected to use high-quality sources of information for your work. As you gather information for your research projects, you'll find many sources in many formats such as books, articles from databases, Web documents, interviews, videos, and more.

For in-depth help evaluating sources, visit our Evaluating Sources guide. However in brief, here are five criteria you should use to evaluate the sources you find:

Relevancy

Does it answer your question or contribute to your research?

When considering the relevancy of a source, there are several things to ask yourself:

• Is the scope of the source is appropriate for your research? Does the source provide a general overview of your topic or is it focused specifically on a single aspect of your topic?
• Who is the intended audience for the source? Is the information too basic or too technical? Does it assume you have prior knowledge about the topic?
• How many sources have you found? Have you searched thoroughly enough to find the most relevant sources available?

Currency

Is the content presented current enough for your project?

When considering the currency of a source, ask yourself:

• Was this source published recently or is it older? Does your research call for the use of very current sources (e.g. medical research) or can you use older sources (e.g. historical research)?
• If you are evaluating a website or other frequently updated source, does the website list the date it was last updated and is the date current enough for your research?

Accuracy 

Is the information provided correct?

When considering accuracy, ask yourself the following questions:

• Has the source been edited or peer-reviewed?
• Has the author supplied a list of references for their work? Does the list of references include scholarly sources?
• Does the source include spelling or grammatical errors? Is the source logical, well-organized, and professional in appearance?

Authoritativeness 

Does the author have expertise on the topic about which he/she is writing?

When considering authoritativeness, ask yourself:

• Who is the author? Is he or she a subject expert on the topic? What are the author's credentials?
• Is the source sponsored or published by a reputable organization or institution?

Objectiveness 

Is there bias or a slant given to the information provided?

When considering the objectiveness of a source, ask yourself the following questions:

• What point of view does the author represent? Is the source arguing for or against something? Does the source contain mostly factual information or is it opinion-based?
• Is the source associated with an organization or institution that is known for promoting a certain point of view or opinion?

Note: It's okay to use information from sources that contain strong arguments or opinions, but it's always a good idea to acknowledge the author's view.

More Information

• Evaluating Sources Using C.R.A.A.P.O.
• Source Evaluation Rubric
• Evaluating Websites