Introduction
In order to make a strong argument, you need to know how to choose relevant sources. This tutorial provides guidance for selecting the best source for a specific assignment or goal and explains how to evaluate a source based on some important attributes.
Click the image to open the tutorial in a new browser window.
The CRAAP Method
The CRAAP method is a handy guide to help you decide if you've found a worthy source or if it's... garbage. :)
Distinguishing Among Source Types
Distinguishing Among Source Types by Dickinson College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Evaluating Sources
Evaluating Sources by Dickinson College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Evaluating Sources for Your Research
Not all of the material you uncover during your research process with be useful for your particular project. It is important to evaluate the credibility of any source before you rely on the information for your own projects.
(1) Scholarly or Popular?
When evaluating print materials, you will first want to determine what type of publication is it - is it a scholarly or popular type of publication?
Web pages in particular can be tricky to evaluate since anyone can publish anything they want on the Web. The UC Berkeley Library has a superb tutorial including important questions to ask yourself when evaluating web pages.
(2) Bias?
Second, you should determine the bias of the publication. Figure out for whom the article was intended and determine if it is a balanced treatment. If it is not a balanced source, does it support the angle you wish to pursue? It is also a good idea to check the credibility and reputation of the author and the publisher.
(3) Relevant?
Finally, you will want to make sure that your information is relevant to your research, particularly is you are examining an older source.
The following are questions you should consider when evaluating sources.
Websites
- Who wrote the page and how can you contact the author? How is this person qualified to write this document?
- What institution publishes and maintains this website?
- Is the publisher making a profit off this site and how can you tell?
- Is there a history of the organization/company, or a mission statement?
- What are the stated goals of this page and are they met?
- Why was this page written and for whom?
- When was the site produced and when was it last updated?
- Are there any links that are broken or do not work?
- Based on the answers to these questions, do you think this site is an appropriate source for your project?
Other Secondary Sources
- What are the author’s credentials or authority to write on this topic?
- Can you identify the thesis of the work? Is it relevant?
- How and from where did the writer obtain the sources used to support the argument?
- How does the material support or challenge your own ideas and the other sources you have examined?
- Based on the answers to these questions, do you think this source is appropriate for your project?
Primary Sources
- What is the author’s connection to the events represented by the source?
- What is the author’s purpose for creating this piece of evidence?
- Did the creator of this piece of evidence accomplish what he/she hoped?
- Based on the answers to these questions, do you think this source is appropriate for your project?