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Legal Research Skills

Evaluation criteria

Authority

  • Who is the author? Are they an expert in their field and the topic?
  • Have they been cited by other authors?
  • Have they written other articles/books in this field?
  • Who is the publisher?

Currency

  • When was the article/book published?
  • Is the publication date right for your need?
  • Do you need current or historical information?
  • How old is the information cited in the article/book?

Content

  • Is the information relevant to your topic?
  • Is the target audience appropriate?
  • Is it written in an academic or scholarly language?
  • How valuable is the information to your topic?

Accuracy

  • Does it adequately explain the research methodology?
  • Can you verify the accuracy in other sources?
  • Do you recognise authors in the bibliography?
  • Is it peer-reviewed?

Bias

  • Is the research sponsored by an organisation?
  • Is the author trying to sell or push a product or service?
  • Do other authors agree with the author's point of view?
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