When doing research, it is important to use a variety of sources such as books, articles from newspapers, magazines or journals, and websites. Always make sure that the information you use is reliable and appropriate for your assignment.
The resources provided by the library are usually peer-reviewed and trustworthy, but when using information that can be accessed through using general search engines, you need to be cautious, as most websites do not undergo peer review.
To ensure you are including only valid information in your research, evaluate your sources using the criteria provided in this LibGuide.
The following criteria are appropriate for evaluating information of any kind. Evaluation is especially imporant when dealing with information found online. Review the following criteria and answer the questions based on the web page you are evaluating. A high quality source with quality information will enable you to answer MOST of the questions with a "YES."
Authority
Defines who created the content, the individual or group's credentials/expertise and provides contact information
Objectivity
Content is balanced, presenting all sides of an issue and multiple points-of-view
Accuracy
Content is grammatically correct, verifiable and cited when necessary
Scope
Content is relevant to your topic or research
Currency
Information is current and updated frequently
**Used with permission, Camdon-Carroll Library, Morehead State University, USA.
