Source evaluation

Is it clear who is behind the information you have found? Can you tell who wants you to read it? It could be an organization, a government agency, a corporation or a person. If it's an individual person, is it someone who is an expert on the subject, such as a researcher, a doctor or a historian?

Information can be published as articles in journals or newspapers. You can also find information in books, or in posts on forums or social media etc. Which platform was used to share the information you received? Was it posted in a source that has a review process such as an editor, or have you found a forum post or blog entry? If it is scientific research, is it peer reviewed or not?

What do you think those publishing the information want to accomplish? What is their motivation? There can be many different reasons to publish things, so it’s always good to think about the ‘why’. Are you looking at a journal article presenting new research results, or an editorial in a daily newspaper where someone is presenting their opinion?

Can you find a date for when the information was published? How old is it? In some subject areas, it is perfectly fine to use old information. In other areas, it’s important to have the most recent information possible.

If you are looking at scientific information, there are a few more questions to ask as part of your source evaluation.

Read more about source evaluation for scientific information.