In addition to these six suggestions about evaluating
sources,
here
are some criteria that are commonly used.
- Authority:
Do you think the authors have authority or expertise to write on the subject they are writing about? Is it clear who is responsible for the site (commercial enterprise, government body, academic institution, or just the author)?
- Accuracy: Do you
have good reason to believe that the information on the site is
accurate? Do authors back up their conclusions with supportive evidence and documentation?
- Objectivity:
Is the purpose of the information clearly stated? Can you determine the author’s point of view? Did you detect any biases (personal, political, religious, or cultural)?
- Currency:
Was the information found on the page written recently? Has the site been kept up-to-date?
- Coverage:
Does this site address the topic you are
researching? Is the information basic and cursory or detailed and
scholarly? Is the information presented substantial (something more in depth than you would find in an encyclopedia or Wiki)?
- Value: Does the site offer anything informative, unique, or insightful? Is the site free of careless errors, misspelled words, and poor grammar? Are their important issues that have been omitted or still need to be addressed? Was the page worth visiting?
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