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LERN105: Critical Reading and Thinking: Source Evaluation Tips

Evaluating for Quality

When examining a source for quality and bias, it's important to learn more about the source, beyond what is on the page you are looking at.

  • Find out information about the author(s). 
    • What is their profession?
    • Do they have a degree in a field related to the topic?  
    • Do they write about this topic frequently?
    • Could they be biased toward their subject area?  Are they aiming for objectivity?
  • Find out more information about where the source is published.
    • What is the mission or publishing purpose of the magazine, journal, book, website, etc.,?
    • Could they be biased toward the information being published?
      • Ex: White supremacists publishing sources about race, scientific journals publishing on creationism vs. evolution, tobacco companies funding research on smoking
    • Who do they publish for?
  • Examine how up to date the information is.
    • Is the topic in the news?
    • Are there new laws, research, etc., available?
  • Consider the accuracy of the information.
    • Is the writing objective?  Or trying to evoke an emotional response?
    • Does the author refer you to outside sources, either in text or in a references section?
    • Are other viewpoints acknowledged?  How does the author address them?

Evaluating for Relevance

When examining a source for relevance, look beyond the title and examine the source in depth.  Don't just look for sources that match exactly what you are arguing.  The point of research is to gather sources that support your argument in different ways and bring them together to prove your argument.

  • What type of information is the source providing?
    • Research/Statistics
    • History
    • Opinion
  • How could you use the information provided?
    • Do statistics/research support or disprove your point?
    • Is it a contrasting point of view, that you can argue against?
  • What part of your project could you use this information in?
    • A main point that supports your thesis?
    • As background information to describe the problem or current situation? 
  • How does it relate to your topic, not your thesis?

CRAAP Rubric

Evaluating Sources                        

 

Use the CRAAP evaluation method to assess sources and determine if they are useful for your research. Apply the criteria to all types of sources whether you find them through Fox Hunt, a subject specific database or on the Internet.

 

Currency--When was it published? Does this matter for your research? How old are the data and facts?

Relevance--Is it related to your research question? Does it fulfill your research needs? What type of information does it provide?

Authority--Who wrote or published the work?  What are their credentials?  What sources do they use?  Are the sources listed? What type of source is it?

Accuracy--Is this information true and reliable?  Is the author being objective?

Purpose--Why was this source created?  Does it have a purpose other than sharing information?

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