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Evaluating Sources for Your Research: Home

Evaluating Sources

Today there is a flood of information in a wide variety of formats - print and electronic/digital  It is also a fact that within this flood of information there are materials that are not trustworthy.

When looking at sources such as web sites one has to remember that anyone can be a publisher and at the same time there are few rules and regulations governing how to set up and maintain a Web stie.  Many authors are anonymous and fill thier sites with half-truths, lies, propaganda, and ignorance - whether deliberately or because they have not carefully researched their topic.

As a result skills must be developed which will help you discern what is reliable, objective, and accurate.

The following criteria are a guide to evaluating any type of information source - be it a book or article - or the latest web site.

         1.  Authority

         2.  Purpose

         3.  Accuracy

         4.  Objectivity

         5.  Currency

         6.  Coverage

         7.  Audience