Evaluate all sources, not just those you find online. Consider all of these criteria together; some criteria may be more important than others, depending on the context of your research. Recognize there is rarely one perfect source. Keep in mind that domain suffixes (e.g., .org, .edu) alone are NOT sufficient indicators of credibility. Use the library's Rate My Source tool to get started, and talk to your professor if you're not sure if a source is appropriate for an assignment.
Criteria to consider:
Accuracy: Are the facts and statistics correct and verifiable? Does it tell you where the statistics came from, and are those trustworthy sources?
Audience: Who is the source intended for? Scholars or experts in a field? Children? The general population? How did you come across the source, and what does that say about the audience?
Author and publisher: Who wrote or compiled the information? Who published it and why? What's their reputation and perspective? Do a web search to learn more about who is behind the information, their reputation, and if they have any special interests. How is it funded? How did you come across the source, and what does that suggest about the author/publisher?
Currency: Is the publication up-to-date? Historic? Is it a republication of an old story? Does it matter?
Documentation: Do the authors or editors include references/citations/links to their sources? What is the quality of those sources? Are sources named?
Language: Is the source's language and tone designed to elicit an emotional reaction? Or is it factual and neutral in tone? Be skeptical of sources you react to emotionally.
Objectivity: Is there an obvious bias, or does the source appear to be impartial? Is the author providing factual information or expressing an opinion? Articles labeled editorial, essay, or commentary denote an opinion, and reputable publications may include such pieces. "Sponsored Content" or "Promoted" = advertisements. Do a web search to learn more about who is behind the information and if they have any special interests or conflicts of interest.
Presentation: Is the source free from spelling and grammatical errors? Does it look professional? Many fake sites are spoofs that look legitimate. Are there visual aids to enhance or explain the information?
Purpose: Is the source intended to inform? Persuade? Entertain? What do other sites say is the purpose of this source/publication?
The Purdue OWL has excellent guidelines for evaluating sources.
What is peer-review?
Peer review is a rigorous process most scholarly articles undergo before publication. Scholars in the author's field evaluate the article for quality and validity. If these scholarly peers determine that the article is of low quality, the publication may reject it. Reviewers often offer suggestions for revision as a condition of acceptance.
Scholarly Journals
Trade Publications
Popular Magazines
Newspapers
Examples
Social Psychology Quarterly
Advertising Age
Time
New York Times
Content
Primary account of original research (i.e. research papers); In-depth analyses of issues in the field; Articles often include abstract, method, discussion, tables, conclusion, and references/bibliography; May include editorials or commentaries
Current news, trends, or products in an industry or professional organization; Statistics, forecasts, employment and career information; Ads
Current events and news; General information with purpose to entertain or inform; Analyses of popular culture; Secondary account of someone else's research that may include opinion; Ads
Current events and news that may be local, regional, national or international; Editorials; Primary source for information on recent events; Ads
Audience
Researchers, scholars, professors, etc.
Practitioners and professionals
General population
General population
Language
Academic, specialized jargon that uses the language of the discipline; Requires some relevant expertise
Specialized jargon or terminology of the field
Easily understandable, non-technical language
Easily understandable, non-technical language
Authors
Researchers, scholars, professors, etc.
Practitioners in the field, industry professionals, or journalists with subject expertise
Journalists or staff writers
Journalists or staff writers
Editorial Process
Volunteer editorial board and usually peer review
Paid editors
Paid editors
Paid editors; Editorial review may be minimal for breaking news
References
Always includes references, footnotes, or bibliographies
Sometimes includes references in text or short bibliographies
References are rare
Rarely cite sources in full
Publishers
Universities, scholarly presses, or academic organizations; Commercial publishers
Commercial publishers; Trade and professional organizations
Commercial publishers
Commercial publishers
Example Databases
JSTOR, Sociological Abstracts
Business Premium, Business Source Premier
Readers Guide, Academic Search Complete
Newspaper Source Plus
What is peer-review?
The rigorous process that articles undergo before they are published. Scholars in the author's field or discipline review and evaluate the article for quality and validity. If lacking, the article may be rejected. Reviewers often offer suggestions for revision as a condition of acceptance. Watch Peer Review in 3 Minutes (NCSU) for more details.
This chart is adapted from Northwestern University's Evaluating Articles page.
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