Evaluating Sources - Ms Mueller - Eng 101 - Fall 2022 - Harold L. Drimmer Library Research Guides at Westchester Community College Library

Criteria for evaluating information and sources

Remember that when you are selecting sources, a variety is best. Use a variety of sources such as books, articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals, and websites. How do you know it these are the best sources for your research project? Use these criteria. Interrogate each source in its own right and relative to the others you're considering.

Criteria	Questions to Ask
Authority / Credibility Determining the author for a source is important in deciding whether information is credible. The author should show some evidence of being knowledgeable, reliable and truthful.	Who is the author (person, company, or organization)? Does the source provide any information that leads you to believe the author is an expert on the topic? Can you describe the author's background (experience, education, knowledge)? Does the author provide citations? Do you think they are reputable?
Accuracy The source should contain accurate and up-to-date information that can be verified by other sources.	Can facts or statistics be verified through another source? Based on your knowledge, does the information seem accurate? Does it match the information found in other sources? Are there spelling or grammatical errors?
Scope / Relevance It is important that the source meets the information needs and requirements of your research assignment.	Does the source cover your topic comprehensively or does it cover only one aspect? To what extent does the source answer your research question? Is the source considered popular or scholarly? Is the terminology and language used easy to understand?
Currency / Date Some written works are ageless (e.g., classic literature) while others (e.g., technological news) become outdated quickly. It is important to determine if currency is pertinent to your research.	When was the source written and published? Has the information been updated recently? Is currency pertinent to your research?
Objectivity / Bias / Reliability Every author has an opinion. Recognizing this is instrumental in determining if the information presented is objective or biased.	What is the purpose or motive for the source (educational, commercial, entertainment, promotional, etc.)? Who is the intended audience? Is the author pretending to be objective, but really trying to persuade, promote or sell something?
Style / Functionality Style and functionality may be of lesser concern. However, if the source is not well-organized, its value is diminished.	Is the source well-written and organized? To what extent is it professional looking? If it is a website, can you navigate around easily? If it is a website, are links broken?

Interrogate the texts

Who wrote it, for whom, and why?

How does this source compare with the other possible sources I have found? In what ways is it similar and different?

What’s unique about this source? What does the article/source say - offer - that other sources do not?

Does it add a new voice? Additional details? New reasons? Alternative points of view? Explanations or interpretations?

What is the author's intention/purpose? What is his or her perspective on the given topic?

Select the minimum required sources plus 1-2.

Evaluate the relative usefulness of sources in context of your topic and its subtopics. For each subtopic, record brief comments about what each source adds to your understanding of the topic.

Ms Mueller - Eng 101 - Fall 2022: Evaluating Sources

Criteria for evaluating information and sources

Interrogate the texts

CRAAP test overview

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