Skip to Main Content

Gibson D. Lewis Library Libguides

Evaluating Sources

Review this guide to learn about methods used to evaluate information! Is your source not passing your evaluation? Search tips to improve your research skills are included.

How Do I Evaluate Information?

As users of the Internet, we have access to so much information! How do we filter out the 'good' versus the 'bad'? 

That's where librarians can step in! We are happy to assist you throughout the evaluation process. There are a variety of frameworks we can rely on to determine if a source is credible or not.

LIBRARIAN'S TIP: Keep in mind, there are not always 'good' and 'bad' sources, but most appropriate and reliable sources. You might find more than one source that helps answer your research question! Use the information below to determine which is the best information source.

 

First Thing's First: Determine Source Type

Before evaluating content, ask yourself: What kind of source do I need?

Did your instructor specify that you should have an academic, peer-reviewed, or scholarly source? Visit the Identifying Different Types of Information tab on the left for more information about source types. 

Here's a general breakdown:

  • Credible Sources: are written by anyone! These sources include a variety of information types, but should always be truthful, reliable, accurate, and maintain a certain amount of objectivity. 
  • Scholarly Sources: (also called academic sources) are written by experts in the field, intended to further an existing conversation with a new discovery, perspective, or update. These sources will feature a substantial amount of citations and arguments should be backed by evidence.
    • Peer-Reviewed Sources: are a type of scholarly source that has undergone an evaluation by other (impartial) experts in the field to confirm the quality of research. Peer reviewers will sometimes make recommendations for revision before publication, or in some cases, recommend against publication. 

NOTE: All scholarly sources are generally considered credible, but not all credible sources are scholarly and not all scholarly sources are peer-reviewed.

Next: Choose a Framework

What is a framework? Usually expressed in mnemonics, these tools are meant to guide the questions you ask when evaluating a source. No one is better than another -- they all ask important questions and each framework might shift focus depending on the type of source it addresses. Frameworks help you to ask the most relevant and appropriate questions about a source and can guide your research process. 

There are so many frameworks to choose from! The tabs will take you through a few of the most common ones based on source type, but if you have any questions, be sure to reach out to your librarian! 

Do you have a scholarly article? Visit the Evaluating Scholarly Information tab on the left for more information!

News Sources

Perform the SMART test for any news sources. These include newspapers, magazines, and broadcast news. 

  • Source: Who or what is the source? Is it a reputable outlet known for their objectivity?
  • Motive: Why are they talking about this? Is there an ulterior movtive for their message? 
  • Authority: Who wrote this? Are they a subject matter expert or otherwise qualified to report on this topic?
  • Review: Have you taken a good look? Is the story consistent or are there questionable 'facts'?
  • Two-Source Test: Take another look! Find other sources on the same topic -- how do they describe the story? 

Social Media Sources

Perform the SIFT test for any information you get from social media! This includes any information in a LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or X post (as well as stories on each platform). 

  • Stop! Do you know the author of this information and do you trust them? Don't share the post until you've verified the information.
  • Investigate the Source. What does the author's profile look like? Are they an individual or an organization? Do they have the credentials to speak on this topic? 
  • Find Better Coverage. Check other sources to verify the information in the post -- is the content similar?
  • Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to the Original Content. Is the original information current to what is going on today? Has the original content been summarized, misinterpreted, or misconstrued in some way? 
    • Are you looking at an image? Find the original by doing a reverse image search on TinEye or Google Images.

Web Sources

Choose either the 5 W's (plus a bonus question) or the ACT UP framework to evaluate web sources! 

  • Who? (Author): What are the qualifications of of the author? Does the author work for a reputable source? What does the "About Us" section say?
  • What? (Accuracy): Are there any editors or references you can double check? Is the content well researched and/or backed by evidence? 
  • When? (Currency): When was the source written and is it accurate to the events of today? 
  • Where? (Publisher): Who is responsible for the content (magazine name, website owner, etc.)? What stake do they have in this topic?
  • Why? (Purpose & Objectivity): Why is the author writing about this topic? Are the arguements trying to sell, promote, sponsor, or otherwise bias you in any way?
  • How? (Impact): What is the impact of consuming this information? Does this source contribute to an existing conversation and propel it in some way? How does this source compare to others?

OR!

  • Author: Who wrote the source and have they written similar content? Google the authors! Is their intent to educate, persuade, share, or sell?
  • Creation: When was the information created? Has it been updated recently? Are there any dates anywhere that can help you to answer this question?
  • Truth: Words matter! Are you able to back up the claims in this source with at least three other sources? Can the 'facts' presented be corroborated by other sources? Just because something is stated or worded as 'The Truth' doesn't mean it actually is.
  • Unbiased: Are they claiming to be unbiased? We all have biases, so this is misleading. Who funded the research or is paying to have this information publicly available? Does this source confirm your own bias? 
  • Privilege: Who's missing from the conversation? Who participated in the research or who didn't particpate? Is there a way you can find information on the groups of people that are not included in this information? 

Final Thoughts

Be critical, not cynical. Evaluating a source does not automatically make it untrustworthy. It's more about asking the right questions and holding resources in a discerning eye. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to spot quality information and over time you will start to recognize it more quickly.

Remember, you do not have to figure it all out on your own. Your librarians are always here to help- it's kind of our thing!