BIONB 1220: The Mind: Evaluating Credibility

Evaluating Sources: Questions to Ask & Strategies for Getting the Answers:

  EXERCISE: For the reference you found, answer the questions on this evaluation checklist. Beside the first question, these work for print as well as web resources.

• Authority:  Can you identify the author or creator?  What are the author's credentials (educational background, past writing, experience) in this area?        
• Currency:   Is the source current or out of date for your topic? Can you even find a date of publication or last update?
• Purpose: What is the purpose or motive for the publication/site? (e.g., educational, commercial, entertainment, promotional) Is it trying to sell you something?
• Bias:  would you say the information is fact, opinion, or propaganda? In other words, what's the bias?    Is the author's point of view objective and impartial? 
• Accuracy of Details: Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched? Are sources listed in a bibliography or included in links to the documents themselves?  Are the sources themselves authoritative?

Analyze and evaluate your search results. Have you found the most authoritative, accurate, objective, up-to-date, scholarly information available on your research topic?

• How to Critically Analyze Information Sources lists some of the critical questions you should ask when you consider the appropriateness of a particular book, article, media resource, or Web site for your research.​
• Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria shows how to evaluate periodicals by looking at their format, intended audience, and appearance.
• See Evaluating Resources for additional information.