Evaluating Sources
The basic
considerations for evaluating any type of information are much the
same no matter what the format of the information. You are always
going to be concerned about who wrote the information and its
accuracy. Below is a detailed checklist of evaluation criteria
for all types of information.
Initial
Appraisal
Author - What are
the author's credentials? Where does he/she work, educational
background, past writings or experience? Is the
author cited in other information sources?
Date of Publication - When was
the information created, published or revised? Is the source
current for your topic?
Edition or Revision - "Is this
the first edition of this publication? Further editions
indicate a source has been revised and updated to reflect changes in
knowledge, include omissions, and harmonize with its intended
reader's needs. Also, many printings or editions may indicated
that the work has become a standard source in the area and is
reliable. If you are using a Web source, do the
pages indicate revision dates?"*
Publisher - If the sources is
published by a university or a government agency, it is likely to be
reputable, although that is not guaranteed.
Title of Journal - "Is this a
scholarly or a popular journal? This distinction is important
because it indicates different levels of complexity in conveying
ideas."* Journals generally: are published monthly or quarterly;
contain scholarly research and primary resource material; don't have
many ads. Magazines generally: are published weekly or
monthly; contain popular literature; have lots of ads.
World Wide Web Site Uniform
Resource Locator (URL) - The URL can provide clues as to the
authority of a web site. It may give the institution
(company, government, university, etc.) or Internet provider that
supports the information. The domain names listed below give
you some idea of what type of institution is involved. Countries
also have domain names, for example: uk stands for the
United Kingdom
Intended Audience - "What type
of audience is the author addressing? Is the publication aimed
at a specialized or a general audience? Is this source too
elementary, too technical, too advanced or just right for your
needs?"*
Objective Reasoning -
- "Is the information
covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? It is not always
easy to separate fact from opinion. Facts can usually be
verified; opinions, though they may be based on factual
information, evolve from the interpretation of facts.
Skilled writers can make you think their interpretations
are facts.
- Does the information
appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it
questionable and unsupported by evidence? Assumptions
should be reasonable. Note errors or omissions.
- Are the ideas and
arguments advanced more or less in line with other works
you have read on the same topic? The more radically an
author departs from the views of others in the same
field, the more carefully and critically you
should scrutinize his or her ideas.
- Is the author's point of
view objective and impartial? Is the language free of
emotion-arousing words and bias?"*
Coverage -
- "Does the work update other
sources, substantiate other materials you have read, or add new
information? Does it extensively or marginally cover your topic?
You should explore enough sources to obtain a variety of
viewpoints.
- Is the material primary or
secondary in nature? Primary sources are the raw material of the
research process. Secondary sources are based on primary
sources. For example, if you were researching Konrad Adenauer's
role in rebuilding West Germany after World War II, Adenauer's
own writings would be one of many primary sources available on
this topic. Others might include relevant government documents
and contemporary German newspaper articles. Scholars use this
primary material to help generate historical interpretations--a
secondary source. Books, encyclopedia articles, and
scholarly journal articles about Adenauer's role are
considered secondary sources. In the sciences, journal articles
and conference proceedings written by experimenters reporting
the results of their research are primary documents. Choose both
primary and secondary sources when you have the opportunity."*
Writing Style -
"Is the publication organized
logically? Are the main points clearly presented? Do you find
the text easy to read, or is it stilted or choppy? Is the
author's argument repetitive?"*
Evaluative Reviews -
You can find sources that review:
general books; literature; film/theater/television; magazines and
journals; and web sites at
Reviews
http://library.truman.edu/databases/reviews.htm
- "Is the review positive? Is the
source under review considered a valuable contribution to the
field? Does the reviewer mention other sources that might be
better? If so, locate these sources for more information on your
topic.
- Do the various reviewers agree
on the value or attributes of the source or has it aroused
controversy among the critics?"*
Try the
Evaluating Sources
Jigsaw Puzzle (http://ids.truman.edu/quality.swf)
*Many thanks to the Reference
Department; Instruction, Research, and Information Services (IRIS);
Cornell University Library
Ithaca, NY, USA permission to reproduce and adapt their
excellent guide: Critically Analyzing Information Sources 6
Oct. 2004. Cornell University. 20 July 2005.<http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill26.htm>.
