Things to consider when evaluating sources:
Authority: Is the author an expert in this topic, either through study or experience?
Currency: When was the source written? Is the information up to date?
Evidence: Are claims in the source backed up with evidence? Is the evidence clearly cited? Are claims corroborated in other sources?
Purpose: Is the source meant to inform? Persuade? Does it have external funding? If so, who funded it? What might their purpose be? Who is the intended audience?
Relevance: Does the source help me accomplish my task?
Scope: Do your sources provide various perspectives that help you get the big picture?
For many of your college level research assignments, you'll use resources such as scholarly articles and books. But what about web resources? Some questions are easier to answer through the web than others. If your question has to do with current events, law, popular culture, organizations, or public affairs, the web offers a lot; if you're looking for scientific research or scholarly articles, you aren't as likely to find what you want. Remember to use a critical eye when evaluating resources you find on the open web.
Whether your project requires you to use "traditional" library resources or resources from social media and the open web, librarians are here to help you with your research!
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
