Learning how to quickly determine the relevance and authority of a given resource for your research is one of the core skills of the research process. For more assistance with the research process, consult your instructor or a librarian.
The following criteria should be used to evaluate books, periodical articles, web pages or other resource:
Author What are the author's credentials--educational background, past writings, or experience--in this area? Is the item (book, article, web page) written on a topic in the author's area of expertise?
The following resources may help determine the credentials of authors and can be found in the Reference Collection.
Current Biography Yearbook
American Men & Women of Science
Biography Index
Who's Who in America
In addition, the Web of Science, found in the ‘Indexes and Databases’ contains information about the number of times someone’s work has been cited and for highly cited individuals, a brief biography. Has your instructor mentioned this author? Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars. For this reason, always note those names that appear in many different sources.
The ‘Online Reference Shelf’ contains a collection of biography information that may be useful, and further information might also be found in directories of various Professional Associations.
Date of Publication When was the source published? Look for the copyright date of books, or the publication date of journals. Web pages will usually include a date of last revision at the end of the page. Watch and note different dates. One item may have a date information was originally written, a date it was published, and/or a revision date.
Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Topic areas of continuing and rapid development, such as science and technology, demand more current information. On the other hand, topics in the humanities often require material that was written many years ago.
Objective Reasoning Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? It is not always easy to separate fact from opinion. Facts can usually be verified; opinions, though they may be based on factual information, evolve from the interpretation of facts. Skilled writers can make you think their interpretations are facts.
Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Assumptions should be reasonable. Note errors or omissions.
Is the author's point of view objective and impartial? Is the language free of emotion-rousing words and bias?
Coverage Does the work update other sources, substantiate other materials you have read, or add new information? Does it extensively or marginally cover your topic? You should explore enough sources to obtain a variety of viewpoints.
Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Primary sources are the raw material of the research process; they represent the records of events as first described. Secondary sources are based on primary sources. These sources analyze, describe, and synthesize the primary or original source. Choose both primary and secondary sources when you have the opportunity.
Type of Periodical Is this a scholarly or a popular periodical? This distinction is important because it indicates different levels of complexity in conveying ideas.
Evaluative Reviews Locate critical reviews of books in a reviewing source, such as Book Review Digest, or in specialized indexes of the field. Is the review positive? Is the book under review considered a valuable contribution to the field? Does the reviewer mention other books that might be better? If so, locate these sources for more information on your topic. Do the various reviewers agree on the value or attributes of the book or has it aroused controversy among the critics?
Intended Audience What type of audience is the author addressing? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience? Is this source too elementary, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs?
Edition Is this a first edition? Further editions indicate a source has been revised and updated to reflect changes in knowledge. Also, many printings or editions may indicate that the work has become a standard source in the area and is reliable.
Publisher Note the publisher. If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly. Although the fact that the publisher is reputable does not necessarily guarantee quality, it does show that the publisher may have high regard for the source being published. If it is a web site, what institution or Internet provider supports the site?
Some text used with permission of Reference Services Division, Olin*Kroch*Uris Libraries, Cornell University Library. These original sources have been modified for use by the University of Cincinnati Clermont College Library.
