U S E T H I S G U I D E T O E VA L U AT E S O U R C E S

 
 

CURRENCY . AUTHORITY . RELEVANCE

DOCUMENTATION . INFORMATION TYPE . OBJECTIVITY

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose one source from your research and list the relevant citation
information. Then evaluate it using the criteria on the other side of this page.

TOPIC:

DATABASE YOU USED

TITLE OF PUBLICATION

TITLE OF ARTICLE OR CHAPTER

AUTHOR(S)
 

PUBLICATION DATE
 

VOLUME AND ISSUE NUMBERS (IF APPLICABLE)

 

PAGE NUMBERS (IF APPLICABLE)

URL (INCLUDE ADDRESS UP TO DOMAIN: .COM, .ORG)

A HELPFUL WAY OF REMEMBERING THE CRITERIA YOU SHOULD CONSIDER

WHEN YOU ARE EVALUATING INFORMATION
 CURRENCY IS THE INFORMATION UP TO DATE? HOW IMPORTANT IS CURRENCY TO
  YOUR TOPIC?

 Check the item’s publication date.

AUTHORITY HOW EXPERT IS THE AUTHOR ON THE TOPIC? WHAT ARE HIS OR HER
CREDENTIALS?
 

 If you can’t tell, Google the author. Are they affiliated with a reputable
institution, organization, or publication?

RELEVANCE IS THIS SOURCE RELEVANT TO YOUR RESEARCH? HOW? DOES THE

“ABOUTNESS” OF THE SOURCE MATCH YOUR INFORMATION NEED?
 
 

 Summarize in one or two sentences how this resource helps you answer your
research question.

DOCUMENTATION HOW IN-DEPTH IS THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE FOUND, AND HOW
DOES IT IMPACT YOUR RESEARCH?
 
 

 Note if and how the author documents her sources.

INFORMATION TYPE WHAT TYPE/GENRE OF INFORMATION IS IT?

 
 

 Identify the kind of resource you are evaluating (e.g., news article, magazine
article, book chapter) and explain why it is appropriate to use as evidence for this
project.

OBJECTIVITY DOES THE AUTHOR SEEM TO BE GIVING EQUAL WEIGHT TO BOTH

SIDES OF AN ARGUMENT OR ISSUE?  ARE THEY SELLING SOMETHING?
 
 

 Cite one example in which you notice the author explaining two sides of an
issue. If you can’t find an example, explain why.

WILL YOU USE THIS RESOURCE FOR YOUR RESEARCH? EXPLAIN WHY OR WHY NOT?