Evaluating Your Sources

The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, websites or multimedia sources are similar whether you′re looking at a citation to the item or have the item in hand.  Learning how to quickly determine the relevance and authority of a given resource for your research is one of the most important skills of the research process.  For more assistance with the research process, consult your instructor or a librarian.

Initial Evaluation

You can appraise a source, even if you do not have it in hand, by first examining the bibliographic citation. A bibliographic citation is a written description of a book, journal article, essay, or some other published material. Bibliographic citations usually have three main components: author, title, and publication information which can help you determine the usefulness of this source for your paper.

Author
What are the author′s credentials (educational background, past writings, or experience) in this area?  Who′s Who in America, Biography Index, or the biographical information located in the publication itself can be used to determine the author′s credentials Is the book or article written on a topic in the author′s area of expertise.  Has the author been mentioned by your professor or have you seen the author′s name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars, so that it is good to note those names that appear in many different sources.

Publication Date
The publication date for a book is often located on the title page below the name of the publisher or look for the copyright date on the reverse of the title page.  Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic?   Topic areas of continuing and rapid development, such as the sciences and technology, require current information.

Edition
The edition for a book is listed on the reverse of the title page.  A book that has more than one edition indicates a source has been revised and updated to reflect changes in knowledge.   Many printings or editions may indicate that the work has become a standard source of reliable information.

Publisher
If the source is published by an academic press, it is likely to be scholarly.  Even though the publisher is reputable does not necessarily guarantee quality; it does show that the publisher may have high regard for the author being published.

Journal
Is your source a scholarly or a popular journal? This distinction is important because it indicates different levels of complexity in conveying ideas. If you need help in determining the type of journal, the University of Richmond has an excellent website on distinguishing between scholarly and popular publications.

Content Analysis

Having made an initial appraisal, you should now examine the body of the source.  Reading the Preface will help determine the author’s intentions for the book.  To get a broad overview of the material, scan the Table of Contents and the Index. Does the author include a list or bibliography of the research sources used in creating this work?

Intended Audience
Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience? Is this source too elementary, too technical or too advanced for your needs?

Objective Reasoning
It is not always easy to separate fact from opinion. Is the author′s point of view objective and impartial?  Facts can usually be verified but opinions, though they may be based on facts, are derived from the interpretation of facts.  A Skilled writer can make you believe that their interpretations are facts.  How valid does the information appear to be? Is it well-researched, supported by evidence and substantiate other material you have read?  Is the information questionable with errors or omissions and are the assumptions reasonable.  Is the language free of emotion-rousing words and bias?   Is the material primary or secondary in nature?

Evaluative Reviews
Locate critical reviews of books in a reviewing source, such as Book Review Index or Book Review Digest. Is the review positive?  Is the book under review considered a valuable contribution to the field? Does the reviewer mention other books 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 book or has it aroused controversy among the critics?
[The information above was based on the Agnes Scott Library website.]

Evaluating a Website

Evaluating a website is very similar to evaluating a printed source and you may ask any of the questions from above.  Here is a shortened list of criteria for evaluating websites and web pages. If you are still unsure about the information you found on a website, consult your professor.

Accuracy
How reliable and free from error is the information?  Has the information been verified by editors or experts and does it substantiate other materials you have read?
 
Authority
Are the author’s qualifications listed?  What qualifies the author to write on this subject?  Almost anyone can publish a website; is the publisher of the website reputable?
 
Objectivity
Is the site a “soapbox” for personal opinions and are the goals of the author clearly stated?  Is there personal bias in the writing?

Currency
What is the date of the information?  Is it clear that the date is for when the information was first written, first posted, or last updated?  Does this site update older information?