Evaluating Sources
What about sources found on the Internet, how do you know who, what, where and why?
There is much random content to be explored on the World Wide Web, however your job as a researcher or scholarly entity is to access the internet in search of legitimate and well presented content. Use the same guidelines you would to evaluate more established mediums like print. Review your sources in an objective manner, looking for accuracy, authority, currency and coverage. The most important factor to your research will be the credibility of your sources, so don't be lazy and accept whatever comes your way. Be thorough, exacting and most of all be somewhat closed-minded. If your source doesn't look credible, it probably isn't. Ask yourself the below questions while reviewing a given electronic resource, and follow through into the sources they used. After all, an authors work may look legitimate, but perhaps their sources are not.
Anyone can publish a website, who is this person and what is their purpose?
- Are their sources accurately documented, can you access their source information?
- Does this author have the sufficient background or experience to know this topic?
- Does the author give a good explanation of their methodology used in gathering the data used in their work?
- What about this site makes you want to believe its accuracy?
If you cannot determine who the author is, then who are they working for?
- Whats the authors occupation, or why is their work on this site?
- Which organization is presenting this work, or who is the host?
- Does the creator provide contact information? Email? Telephone?
- How were you directed to this site? Are they credible?
Does the author represent both sides or all variables to the given subject matter?
- Do they offer comprehensive linkage, providing a means for you to view oppositional material?
- How relevant is their content to the given topic?
- Are they merely reiterating information from another more credible source?
- If so, what is the importance of their view?
What types of sources are there, and how do you know what you have?
Is the information accurate and reliable, or are you just wasting time?