In today's world of technology, just about anyone can find a wealth of information on just about any topic. The challenge comes in selecting appropriate and reliable sources. Just because a book, article, or website matches the search criteria and seems to be relevant, does not mean it is an appropriate or reliable source of information. Given that all sources are not created equal, learning to analyze and evaluate critically is an important part of the research process.
Although subtle differences are involved when evaluating different types of sources, there are basic questions to be considered with all. These have been described below:
Who is the author(s) and what are his or her credentials?
Is there adequate documentation? (references, bibliography, credits, footnotes)
Is this report of primary research? (surveys, experiments, studies, etc.)
Is it a compilation of information gathered from other sources?
What evidence of supporting documentation is presented? Does the data support the conclusion?
Are arguments and suporting evidence presented clearly and logically?
Is the topic covered comprehensively, partially, or is it a broad overview?
Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and typographical errors?
How current is the text? Currency is important for some topics, less so for others.
What type of audience is the author addressing? Is it aimed at a specialized or general audience?
Is this source appropriate for your needs?
Are the author's appeals based on logic or are they appeals to the readers' emotions?
Are issues treated in a factual manner?
Who is the intended audience?
What is the purpose of the information? Is a government, educational, or research group providing information? Is a person or group trying to sway public opinion?