Evaluating Your Sources for Research

Made by Elizabeth Dexter MLIS

Why do we evaluate our sources?

We want to make sure that our sources are providing accurate and quality information.

Knowing how to locate credible and reliable sources is important for ensuring effective research.

Peer Reviewed: peer reviewed sources means that the source has been reviewed by experts in the field and that the source is of quality and accurate
Credible Websites: government websites, organizations like the NHS, and major news outlets like the BBC.
Using Wikipedia: Wikipedia is not a credible source. However, it can be a good starting point in your research. At the bottom of each Wikipedia is a reference list with all the sources used in the page.

Primary sources are directly from the source. Examples: interviews, dairy entries, original photos, or original data sets.
Secondary sources are analysis or interpretations of primary sources. Examples: scholarly articles, books, biographies, documentaries.

Being able to identify misinformation and disinformation can be helpful in evaluating your sources.

Misinformation is incorrect information spread unintentionally. Misinformation often is shared without malice or without the knowledge that it’s misinformation.
Disinformation is incorrect information spread intentionally. Disinformation is created and shared with malice or the intent to mislead.

Where are did you find this information? Would you consider it a reliable source?
Where did the source get their information from?
What are other sources saying about this information?
Is the information being over exaggerated?
Is the information current or is it old information recirculating?
Can you find the original sources?
Consider the motives behind the information being shared.
Use fact checking websites.