Evaluating Sources

You will need to use critical thinking skills to evaluate your sources. This is especially true with online-only sources or non-academic journals.  Check the following:

Authorship:

• Is the person, group or organization responsible for the site identified?
• What type of site have you located?  For example, is it a personal page (.net) or blog, a company website (.com), an organization (.org), a government body (.gov), or an educational institution (.edu)?

Accuracy:

• Does the author cite reliable sources for his or her facts?
• How does the information compare with that in other works written about this topic?

Authority:

• What are the author's qualifications for writing on this subject?
• Is he or she connected with an organization that has an established reputation?

Currency:

• Does the web site include a publication date or "last updated" date?
• Is the information provided recent? Or is it from the time period you are researching?

Objectivity:

• Is the author affiliated with a particular organization that might have a bias?