When you find a source, consider:
Purpose: What is the source's purpose? Why was it created? Where was it published?
Author: Who is the author? Is it an individual or an organization? What are their credentials and their authority on the topic? Where are they situated in the world and what might be their possible biases?
Relevance: What is the source's relevance to your research? What part of your research question will it help you answer?
Thinking about these questions can also help you think about how you're going to present your research to your audience. If you want to use a source that has clear bias, you can give that context to your audience. If you find an important piece of information in only one place, you can tell your audience you were unable to confirm it through another source.
| PURPOSE: What is the purpose of the source? |
Identify the source type (scholarly, news, background, data, visual, etc.) Intended audience. Look for the main points/argument. Is it trying to inform, sell, entertain, persuade, or something else? What evidence is presented (experiment, experience, interviews, other sources, etc.)? Does the tone or writing style promote a certain point of view? |
| AUTHORITY: What is the authority of the author/creator? |
Can you find info about the author/creator? What are their credentials? Where do they work? How is their expertise related to the topic/issue? Can you identify definite or possible biases they might have? What info can you find about the publication/info source? |
| RELEVANCE: How is this source relevant to your information needs? |
Is this source useful for your topic? How? What specific parts or details would you use? Are there parts you would refute? What other sources would you need to use with this one to fully explore your topic? |
Another important aspect of evaluating information, is understanding where it came from.
If you find source through Google, remember that the algorithm is trying to help you but might limit what you see in the process. It prioritizes showing you results that are sponsored, popular, and informed by your own search history.
If you find sources in other ways, like through AI, it is important to remember that AI sometimes makes up false sources, does not always indicate where it got sources, and might not allow you to find those sources again. See the library's guide on AI literacy for more information about AI and research.
