No matter what kind of source you're reviewing, it's important to consider whether this is a reliable source or has some sort of bias. A quick tool to do that is this: the PACAC Method.
Purpose: What is the author's intent? To inform, instruct, educate, entertain, inspire, promote, persuade? What tact is he/she using? An appeal to emotion, morals, or logic?
Authority: Does the author have the necessary credentials or academic affiliation? Has the author written other scholarly, peer-reviewed books or articles on the topic? Does he/she have life experiences that inform his/her claims?
Currency: (this, of course, varies depending on what you are studying) If you are doing historical research, you may want to use primary sources from the historical period you are studying. In other instances, you might need to consult the most-recently published resources in your field. (Take note of copyright dates or "last updated" dates at the bottom of webpages.)
Accuracy: Is the information provided correct? Has the book or article undergone peer review for fact checking and approval of methodolog(ies)?
Content: Is the content relevant to your research question? Does it answer or address the questions that you have?
*For more on the PACAC Method, see: Quaratiello, A. & Devine, J. (2011). The college student’s research companion: Finding, evaluating, and citing the resources you need to succeed. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers.
