Analyzing Sources
The ways we decide whether a source is reliable are critical. Take a look at these guidelines and tools. Not sure if something is credible? Ask us! Librarians can help you find and analyze sources.
Currency:
How recent is the information? Is it important that the information is up-to-date?
When was the information published? How recently has the website been updated?
Is it old information that's been "recycled"?
Reliability:
What kind of reputation does the source have?
Is the content of the resource primarily opinion based?
Is it balanced?
Does the creator provide fully credited references or sources for data or quotations?
Are there other sources that can corroborate the information?
Authority:
Who is the creator or author?
What are their credentials?
What makes the author(s) an authority on this subject?
Who is the publisher or sponsor?
Are they reputable?
What is the publisher's interest (if any) in this information?
Purpose/Point of View:
How is the information presented? (fact, opinion, propaganda, etc.)
If presented as fact, is it accurate?
Can you find other sources that corroborate the information?
Is there a bias? (cultural, political, religious, etc.) If so, is the bias clearly stated?
Commercialism:
Does the article/Web site have a corporate sponsor?
Is the creator/author trying to sell you something?
Please feel free to share this image with others.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Please note that I do not give permission for any part of this LibGuide to be used for any for-profit endeavors, including publication.