Evaluate your sources

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?