Evaluating Your Sources: Home

When conducting research, it can be difficult to identify sources that are credible and relevant to your topic. Watch this video to learn how to evaluate your sources for credibility and relevance by asking yourself a few questions about your sources. 

How Does Your Source Measure Up?

Information is not created equal. You will need to evaluate each source you want to use in your research. Use the criteria below to help you evaluate information for credibility and help you determine if it fits your situation. 

Stop!

Check your emotions:

• How does this source make you feel? 

Check your prior knowledge: 

• What do you already know about this topic and source?

Who?

• Who is/are the author(s)?
• What are the authors' credentials?
• Do the authors have any potential biases?

What?

• What's the authors' main claim?
• What sources do they cite as support? Can you fact check or verify?
• Is the author ignoring other or more current perspectives? 

Where?

• Where was it published? 
• Does the publication have a potential bias? 
• Who is the intended audience? 

Why?

• Why is the source useful?
• Why is this information relevant to your argument? 
• How could it enhance your argument?