Evaluating Resources
How do you know if you have the right resource?
Once you've found a resource, you need to make sure it has what you need. Here are a few things to keep in mind when evaluating your resources:
Who is the publisher?
- Is it self-published, or is there an affiliation with a research university?
- Do they have a good reputation?
Who is the author?
- What experience or authority does the author have in this field?
- Are they, or were they, a professor at a college or university?
When was it published?
- Was it published recently?
- Has the information on this topic changed since publication?
Is it peer-reviewed?
- Has the resource been evaluated by other scholars or experts prior to publication?
References & Citations
- What sources is the author citing?
- Are they credible sources?
- What type of resources are they citing?
These aren't the only questions you can ask, but they are helpful tools in deciding whether or not to use a resource.
Other Helpful Links
Here are some links with more information on evaluating resources:
- The C.R.A.A.P. Test (video)A quick overview of the C.R.A.A.P. test, a method for identifying reliable sources on the internet.
- Purdue OWL: Evaluating SourcesEvaluating sources means recognizing whether the information you read and include in your research is credible. Despite the large amount of information available, both in print and online, not all of it is valid, useful, or accurate. Evaluating sources of information that you might include in your writing is an important step in any research process.
When writing research papers, not only will you be searching for information, but you will be evaluating the sources for credibility. You have to decide where to look, how to recognize credible sources, and how to cross-check your information. Learning how to evaluate effectively is a skill you need both for your course papers and for your life. - SCF Evaluating Resources VideosVideos that help evaluate different types of resources, such as scholarly journals, primary and secondary resources, government documents, and more.
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