* = important for scholarly sources
Italics: red flag! Not necessarily a deal breaker, but consider carefully
| Questions to ask |
Some possibilities |
| Who is the intended audience? |
- *Scholars/Researchers
- General public
- People employed/practicing in the field
- Fans/hobbyists/amateurs
|
| Why was this source created? What is its purpose? |
- *To contribute to the research/scholarship in this field
- As a guide for people who are working in this field
- For general interest/enlightenment
- For entertainment
- To sell a product
- To advocate for a political agenda
|
| Who created this source? |
- *Scholars/researchers
- Journalists
- Artists
- Fans/hobbyists
- Non-profit organization
- Think tank
- Lobbyists
- For-profit business/corporation
|
| What kind of expertise do the author(s) / creator(s) have in this subject? |
- *Faculty/researcher at college/university
- *Degree/expertise in field
- Experience in field
- Affiliated with organization that has identifiable agenda
- Can’t tell
|
| When was the information created/published? |
- Is it important for your purposes that the information come from a certain date range? (e.g., past 5 years; a specific decade you are researching; etc.)
- Is the information still current, or have there likely been new findings or developments in this area?
|
| Are there indications that this is a credible, reliable source? |
- *Are claims backed up by other sources?
- *Are there references or a bibliography?
- *Is the source peer-reviewed?
- *Is there a reputable publisher or sponsoring organization behind the source?
- Is the source presented in a sloppy/questionable manner?
- Are advertisements or sponsored content present?
|