Evaluating Information
An important part of research is learning how to evaluate the information you find. Here are some initial things to consider:
- Does the item meet the requirements of the assignment? (Is it the right length and format?)
- Is the information general interest or scholarly? (PDF)
- Websites can be particularly tough to evaluate because it's easy and inexpensive for anyone to create one. If you're going to use a website, be sure to look into the author's credentials and motivations for publishing their work.
- There are five specific areas to consider when thoroughly evaluating any resource: 1) who is the publisher; 2) who is the author; 3) the age of content; 4) the quality of the content; and 5) the objectivity of the author and the content. Below are some questions to consider and places to look for each of the five areas.
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Questions |
Where to Look |
| Publisher |
All formats:
- Who is the publisher? (E.g. university press, commercial publisher, government agency.)
- Is the publisher reputable?
- If the content includes research, who sponsored it? (E.g. an organization, corporation or government agency.)
Specific to websites:
- Why do they sponsor the site?
- Is contact information available?
- What does the website domain tell you?
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All formats:
- Title page or container.
- Reviews in reputable publications such as newspapers and Library Journal or CHOICE.
Specific to websites:
- "Contact Us" or "About Us" page
- Domain (ending of web address)
- .org - usually a nonprofit organization
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| Author |
All formats:
- Who wrote the content?
- What expertise does the author have?
- What are the author's qualifications? (E.g. education, employment, past writings)
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All formats:
- Biographical description on item
- Look up author or group in a search engine, like Google
Specific to websites:
- "Contact Us" or "About Us" page
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| Currency |
All formats:
- Is the publication date listed? How old is it?
- Does the age of the information fit the requirements of your assignment?
Specific to websites:
- Are links current? Do they work?
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All formats:
- Title page or container.
- Copyright dates.
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Content |
All formats
- Does author cite sources? (I.e. a bibliography, links to outside websites, etc.)
- Are topics covered in-depth or only briefly?
- Are there spelling or grammar errors?
- Is it clear and well organized?
- Was this written for a popular audience or a scholarly one?
- Are the facts accurate? Is the author's research method valid?
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All formats:
- Examine contents of resource itself
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| Objectivity |
All formats:
- What is the author's purpose? (E.g. report, inform, present opinion, sell a product.)
- What is the information based on? (E.g. opinion, experience, interviews, research.)
- Does the author express opinions?
- Do they promote an agenda or ask for action on your part on a particular issue?
- Is someone trying to sell you something?
- Are there ads associated with the content?
- What is the point of view of the author, publisher, or sponsor?
- Does this information contain bias, prejudice, deception, or manipulation?
- Is it possibly a joke or satire?
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All formats:
- Descriptions of the author or publisher on the item.
- Look up author / group in search engine, like Google
- Requests for donations, such as links that say "Donate" or "How to Help"
Specific to websites:
- "About Us" or "Contact Us" pages
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Test Your Skills!
Visit this site: Male Pregnancy
Answer the questions below:
- Publisher: Who sponsors this site? Where are they located?
- Author: When you search for information about these scientists online, what do you find?
- Date: When was the site last updated? What is Mr. Lee's due date?
- Content: Does the website make references to outside sources to back up their claims?
- Objectivity: What is the author's purpose for publishing their work?
Additional Resources
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