Evaluating Sources

A tutorial from the University of Waikato

http://www.waikato.ac.nz/library/learning/wise/evaluating/index4.shtml

From Queens University Library website
http://library.queensu.ca/inforef/strategyche.htm

Purpose
Why was the resource written? Was the author's purpose to inform, persuade, or to refute a particular idea or point of view?
Audience
Is the resource intended for the general public, scholars, professionals,etc.
Authority
What are the author's qualifications? Consider author's educational background, past writings and experience. Is the author associated with an organization or institution? Who is the publisher? Are they well known? Does any group control the publishing company?
Accuracy
Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? Facts can be usually verified. Opinions evolve from the interpretation of facts. Are the author's conclusions or facts supported with references?
Timeliness
When was the information published? Is the date of publication appropriate for your topic?
Coverage
Is it relevant to your topic? Is the topic covered in depth, partially or is it an broad overview? Does the resource add new information, update other sources or substantiate other resources that you have consulted?
Objectivity
Does the author present multiple viewpoints or is it biased? How do critical reviews rate the work?

from http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/annotated_bib.html

Questions to Consider

You need to consider carefully the texts that you select for your annotated bibliography. Keep the following questions in mind to help clarify your choices.

What topic/ problem am I investigating?
What question(s) am I exploring? Identify the aim of your literature research.
What kind of material am I looking at and why? Am I looking for journal articles, reports, policies or primary historical data?
Am I being judicious in my selection of texts? Does each text relate to my research topic and assignment requirements?
What are the essential or key texts on my topic? Am I finding them? Are the sources valuable or often referred to in other texts?

For more Core Tutorial evaluating sources
http://gemini.lib.purdue.edu/core/