The sources you reference need to be credible and authoritative. Check the following things to make sure you are using good, scholarly sources.
Currency
- Check the date that your source was published.
- Is is recent and up-to-date?
- Was it written in a time frame that is relevant to your research?
- Finally, make sure the source you are using is being maintained and kept current.
Relevance
- Does this source give information or perspectives related to my research?
- Who was this source intended for?
Accuracy
- How do I know this information is accurate?
- Has it been reviewed before publication (peer-reviewed)?
- Is the source unemotional and professional?
- Where did the author get his/her information?
Authority
- Is the author affiliated with a university or another institution? What else has the author written?
- What are his/her credentials? Are they qualified? Expertise in this field? There are many articles published claiming to be scholarly work by individuals claiming expertise but are of highly questionable credibility.
- Is it peer-reviewed? Peer-reviewed scholarly work provides greater credibility to the publication.
- Was the source published on-line? Check the URL for the domain. This can help you determine the origin of the document, for example whether it is produced by a federal or local agency, a nonprofit organization or a commercial web site. A web site on a university or institution's server is more likely to be a reliable objective source than one on a commercial site. Be wary of websites where the name of the author cannot be found.
- NOTE: A journal article found online through a database is NOT a web resource.
Purpose
- Why was this source created? Determine if the page is a mask for advertising or politics; if yes, then the information could be biased.
- A writer’s tone of how he/she writes is evidence of respect for the research process and for the opinions of others. Be wary of writers who express their views in an angry tone.
- Is the intended audience a scholarly one? If so, it should have a clear bibliography that you will also be able to consult for further sources.
- References and links to other sources can add to a document's credibility.
