USU Libraries  Evaluating Sources 

HOW DO WE EVALUATE?

    Now that we know why we need to evaluate sources, let's talk about how we actually do that. The criteria below will help you evaluate information for credibility and help you determine if it fits your situation.  When conducting research, it can be difficult to identify sources that are credible and relevant to your topic. Watch this video to learn how to evaluate your sources for credibility and relevance by asking yourself a few questions about your sources. 

    EVALUATION CRITERIA

    Information is not created equal. You will need to evaluate each source you want to use in your research. Use the criteria below to help you evaluate information for credibility and help you determine if it fits your situation. 

    Evaluation with with steps to evaluate sources: stop, who, what, where, and why

    STOP!

    Check your emotions:

    Check your prior knowledge: 

    Taking the time to make yourself aware of your own opinions and possible biases from the start will help you more accurately evaluate the source.

    WHO?

    Often, you may need to go further than just the author bio within the source. Go out and investigate the authors’ background and other publications. Knowing the Who helps you uncover potential bias and determine credibility. 

    WHAT?

    Knowing the What of a source will help you determine how you will use this to enhance your argument. However, evaluating a source often requires you to do additional research on the topic to better evaluate the quality of the information being presented.

    WHERE?

    Knowing the Where will help you uncover any bias in the source.  

    WHY?

    Knowing the purpose of the source (Why) will help you use it correctly to enhance your argument. 

    CIRCLE BACK

    Finally, “Circle back.” Return to the evaluation process often to take the new information you’ve gathered and conduct a more effective investigation of the source and information moving forward. 

    TEST YOURSELF

    You are writing an argumentative paper on a controversial topic. You want to ensure your paper is well-balanced and overcomes bias. How do you do this? 

    Find articles that support your view on the topic. 

    Yes, you do want to do that...but to be balanced you must find articles on both sides of the argument. 

    Find articles that support your view of the topic and other perspectives. 

    Great! This will help ensure your paper is well balanced. 

    Give up and find a less controversial topic. 

    Giving up is never the answer! Ask a librarian for help if you are overwhelmed.

    Check Answer