Evaluating What You Find

Why? How? What?

Bibliographic Criteria
Authority
Currency
Intended Audience
Source/Publisher

Content Criteria
Accuracy
Coverage/Scope
Objectivity/Bias
Quality
Relevance

Activity

 

Source/Publisher

The source or publisher of the information can be an important indicator of quality and authority, especially if the author is unidentified. The more reputable the publisher, the more likely it is that the work is reliable and authoritative. University presses and scholarly journals and organizations are more likely to publish content worthy to be used in academic research than commercial organizations. Ask yourself:

• Is the publisher academic or commercial?

• Does the publisher have an agenda or bias that may affect the information they publish?

• What is the mission of the publishing company?

• Does the publisher have an established good reputation?

Examples:

• Source/Publisher in Print Sources
  
  
  
  

• Source/Publisher in Websites