How to Evaluate Sources of Information
When looking at any source of information you should evaluate as many of these areas as possible:
Authority
- Who is the author?
- What are his/her qualifications?
- Is he/she an expert in that particular field?
- How much has that author published?
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Do other people make reference to his/her work?
- How reliable is the information?
- Have the facts been checked?
- How does this compare to other information sources on the same topic?
- How reliable is the information?
- Have the facts been checked?
- How does this compare to other information sources on the same topic?
Objectivity
- Does the information have a bias?
- Does this information have an agenda or trying to sell something?
- How does this viewpoint compare to other information sources on the same topic?
- Is the information dated?
- Is the information out of date?
- The currency of the information will be more important for topics that require the most up-to-date information, such as the sciences.
- What is the depth and breadth of the information?
- Does this information source have any real value?
- How does this compare to other information sources on the same topic?
- Does it cover the same information? More information or less information?