Evaluating Sources
Information is everywhere. Given the many sources which are available for you to gather your information from, you'll soon realise that it's not possible to include everything you've found (you do not want the literature review section to take up a whopping amount of your research paper!). As such, you will want to include only the best and relevant sources. To identify those, ask yourself the following questions:
Assessing the suitability of a source
Scope
- What is the breadth of the article, book, website or material?
- Is it a general work that provides an overview of the topic?
- Or is it specifically focused on only one aspect of your topic?
- Does the breadth of the work match your own expectations?
- Does the resource cover the right time period that you are interested in?
Audience
- Who is the intended audience for this source?
- Is the material too technical or too clinical?
- Is it too elementary or basic?
Timeliness
- When was the source published?
- If it is a website, when was it last updated?
- Avoid using undated websites
- Library catalogs and periodical indexes always indicate the publication date in the bibliographic citation
Assessing the accuracy of a source
All-Roundedness
- Is there a methodology to the research?
- Can the methodology be duplicated for verification purposes?
- Are there limitations to the methodology?
- How are the results interpreted?
- Is there a bibliography and does it include links to the documents themselves?
- Are names of individuals and or sources that provided non published data used in the preparation of the study?
- Is the information current? When was it updated?
- You can check at the bottom for a "last revised" date and/or notice if there are numerous dead links on the site (for websites)
- Can you verify the background information for accuracy?
- Does the website have any credentials such as being rated by a reputable rating group?
- If you see a high rating, is that because of the soundness of the content or the quality of the design?
- An attractive page is not a reason for accepting its information as reliable.
Author's Point-of-View
- Is there any indication of bias on the site?
- Note the URL of the document
- Does this document reside on the Web server of an organization that has a clear stake in the issue at hand?
- If you are looking at a corporate web site, assume that the information on the corporation will present it in the most positive light
- If you are looking at products produced and sold by that corporation, remember: you are looking at an advertisement
- If you are reading about a political figure at the web site of another political party, you are reading the opposition
- Does this document reside on the Web server of an organization that has a political or philosophical agenda?
- If you are looking for scientific information on human genetics, would you trust a political organization?
- Never assume that extremist points of view are always easy to detect. Some sites promoting these views may look educational.
- What is the purpose of the site?
- To provide information?
- Advertise?
- Persuade?
- Are the goals of the site clearly indicated?
- Is the design masking the lack of information?
- Is there a lot of flash and color and gimmicks to attract attention?
- Is it trying to get you to buy something?
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