Evaluating sources

Is your information relevant? Does it meet your information needs as defined at the outset of your preparation?

Great! Now ask yourself : is the quality of the information good?

Use the following criteria to help you make your assessment.

1. Purpose and intended audience
   • Consider the purpose of the information
   • What is the author's intention?
   • Who is the target audience?
2. Authority and credibility
   • Author's biographical information and expertise in the field
   • If they are cited or not by other authors
   • Who is the publisher?
3. Accuracy and reliability
   • The information is comparable to that found in other sources
   • Verified and valid data collection methods
   • Presence of references and/or a bibliography
4. Objectivity or bias
   • Presence of opinions vs facts
   • Objective (unbiased) or subjective (biased)?
   • Use of nuanced language
   • Other indications that may cast doubt on the quality of the document
5. Currency and timeliness of the information
   • Up-to-date/current information
   • Historical data may be acceptable or required, depending on the focus of your research.

This Memory aid will allow you to quickly return to the questions listed.

 
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