Once you have gathered your sources you need to evaluate them for usefulness. Useful books and articles will support your research with reliable information that is relevant to your topic. Here are some guidelines to help you evaluate your sources:
Are your sources accurate and reliable? Check for footnotes and/or a list of references. These references should substantiate statements made by the author.
Is the author objective? Look for signs that the author is unbiased and objective. If the author is a spokesperson for a particular interest group or has an axe to grind, take that into account when evaluating the source. For Internet sources, is there an author (a person or an organization) identified?
Is the author competent? Does the source provide information about the author? Does the author have the credentials to be an authority on the subject?
Who published the book or article? Publishers of professional and scholarly books and articles make sure that the information in those sources is reliable. Many scholarly journals have a rigorous review process in which scholars in the field review the article prior to publication. This process is known as "peer reviewed" or "refereed." Popular publications can still be useful but should be evaluated carefully for accuracy.
Are your sources current? Depending upon your topic, you may need the most recent information available. Check the date of publication and see if there are references to current statistics, findings, or events.
Sources on the Internet can pose special problems for evaluation. Internet news groups can be good sources of opinion but it is often difficult, if not impossible, to assess the reliability of a particular source. There is no quality control on the Internet, but sites administered by universities (.edu) or government organizations (.gov or .mil) are usually among the best.
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This page is maintained by Rebecca Knight, Reference Department.
Version: 02/08
Last modified: 02/11/08
