Evaluating Sources
How can you be sure the information you are using is accurate, reliable, and unbiased? Consider the questions below when evaluating information.
Is It Fact or Opinion?
Facts are often reliable and useful for research. Opinions can also be useful, depending on your topic. For example, opinions may be appropriate for a topic such as college professors' perceptions of Facebook. Both can be used in research, but it depends on the purpose of your paper. When in doubt, check with your instructor.
Who Wrote It?
Not everyone is qualified to write about a given topic, so consider who the author is.
Ask yourself:
Is the author qualified or experienced in the subject area?
Is the organization a reputable business?
Are they respected or disrespected in their field?
When Was It Written?
Be aware of whether your topic requires recent or updated sources, or whether older or historical sources are acceptable.
Ask yourself:
Is it a topic that frequently changes, such as technology?
Will the information remain mostly unchanged, such as a historical event like the Civil War?
Is it a website that is updated regularly?
Are the links still active?
Is It Biased?
Certain publications may be biased or skewed to favor the person or organization publishing the information.
Ask yourself:
Is the site trying to sell you something?
Does the author argue for only one side?
Would the organization gain profit from the publication?