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From GNED 104 course - Research - course I created at Morrisville State College
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04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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GNED104 -- Library Research Methods
EvaluationOf
Your sources
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources.
Books, magazines, websites Criteria
• Authority/credibility • Content
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Books
Authority/credibility 1. Is author's name included? 2. What is the expertise of the author? Is it related to the topic of the book?
A. EducationB. Profession C. Other publications
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Books
Authority/credibility 3. What is the author's opinion? Is it backed up with facts (statistics, historical data, etc.)?4. Who publishes the item? Is there hidden "agenda," or a cause, or is it just a business?
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Books
Authority/credibility 5. Is it a reliable source? Why? Does it
include a bibliography or works cited page?A. Check book reviewsB. Is it listed in other sources?
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Books
Content1. When was item written?
A. Older material may be out of dateB. Older material may be useful for
historical research2. Is the content meaningful and useful? Why ?3. Is there evidence of any bias, either by the author or the publisher? Bias is not necessarily bad if it is obvious
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Books
Content4. Is it objective or subjective (facts, or opinion/creative)?5. Is the information accurate? Why? 6. Is it primary source material? Did the person witness the event (primary) or just writing about it (secondary)?
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Magazines
Authority/credibility 1. Is author's name included? 2. What is the expertise of the author?
(Education, profession, publications,etc.)
3. What is the author's opinion is? Is it backed up with facts (statistics, historical data, etc.)?
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Magazines
Authority/credibility 4. Who publishes the item? Is there hidden
"agenda," or a cause, or is it just a business? [For example, Washington Monthly (a newspaper) is owned and published by the Unification Church]5. Is it a reliable source? Why? Does it include a bibliography or works cited page?
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Magazines
Content1. When was item written?
A. Technical topics need current materialB. Older magazines may be useful for
certain topics2. Is the content meaningful and useful? Why ?
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Magazines
Content3. Is there evidence of any bias, either by the author or the publisher? 4. Is it objective or subjective (facts, or opinion/creative)?
A. Newspapers such as National Inquirer or the Star are not considered factual!!
B. Many magazine articles in popular magazines may appear factual but are actually more subjective
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Magazines
Content5. Is the information accurate? Why? 6. Is it primary source material?
A. Newspapers may be primary or secondary. If reporter witnessed the event in person then it is primary, if not it is secondary.
B. Be careful. Some articles may appear to be primary sources but are really secondary.
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Web Pages
Authority/credibility 1. Is author's name included?
A. You must know who wrote or who is responsible for a website.
B. Do not use a site if there is no obvious author or group responsible for it.
2. What is the expertise of the author? A. Anyone can put up a webpage on any topic!!B. Expertise must be evaluated when looking at
web sites.
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Web Pages
Authority/credibility 3. What is the author's opinion? Is it backed up with facts (statistics, historical data, etc.)? What is the source of the statistics or other facts?4. Who publishes the item? Is there hidden "agenda," or a cause, or is it just a business? (N.R.A. website would not give a balanced view on gun control)5. Is it a reliable source? Why? What other sites point to it?
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Webpages
Content1. When was item written?
A. Many web sites never get updated.B. Don’t use a web site if there is no date for
when it was created or updated.
2. Is the content meaningful and useful? Why ?3. Is there evidence of any bias, either by the author or the publisher?
04/11/23 Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian, SUNY Morrisville
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Evaluation of Your Sources -- Webpages
Content4. Is it objective or subjective (facts, or opinion/creative)? Where is the web site housed? Who is the host site?5. Is the information accurate? Why? 6. Is it primary source material? Is the author involved in the events or simply restating ideas from others?
