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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.

Evaluating Scholarly Information

As a health science student, you will most likely need to evaluate scholarly information for the majority of your assignments in the classroom and clinic. What is a scholarly source?

Scholarly sources are those that disseminate research (new thoughts, discoveries, perspectives or otherwise continue an existing conversation) among scholars, researchers, and subject matter experts. They are usually characterized by a long list of citations and are more analytical and detailed than the information you would find in a popular source, like a newspaper or magazine.

It can be difficult to navigate this landscape, so feel free to use the table below for a list of commonly used words used to describe scholarly information and their definitions.

TERM DEFINITION
Academic Any source affiliated with colleges, universities, and research; often means something written by experts for other experts
Grey Literature Research or reports that aren’t published in regular journals or books — like conference papers, theses, or government reports — but can still be really valuable because they give indication to emerging research or alternative perspectives
Journal A type of periodical where researchers publish articles about their studies, often meant for an academic audience 
Monographs A deep, detailed book or report that focuses on one specific topic written by one or a few experts - usually in an 'unpublished' or 'final proof' version
Peer-Reviewed / Refereed Scholarly articles that have been checked and approved by experts in the field before they get published - note: if a source is not peer-reviewed, that does not disqualify its scholarly value
Periodicals

Any source published on a regular schedule, like magazines, journals, or newspapers 
Reference Material Sources like encyclopedias, dictionaries, or handbooks that you use to look up quick facts or background information - in other words, Google before Google! Usually these sources are not considered 'scholarly'
Trade Publication A magazine or journal written for people working in a specific job field, like healthcare or engineering, with news and tips rather than heavy research - some (not all) trade publications are scholarly and/or peer-reviewed
White Paper A type of grey literature that is usually a detailed report that explains a problem and offers a solution, often written by experts, organizations, or government groups

Is My Source Scholarly?

Just as there are frameworks to evaluate credible information, frameworks focused on scholarly information exist too! Is this a TRAAP?!

  • Timeliness: is the date of publication easy to find? 
    • Does your research question need the most updated information?
    • Is there a newer source you can refer to? OR Is there a revised/updated version of this document? 
  • Relevance: does this source address your research question or one of your arguments?
    • Are you among the intended audience of this document?
    • Does this document align with other sources or are there opposing arguments? If there are opposing arguments in other sources, can you verify which one is backed by evidence?
    • Does the language in the document seem tailored to a specific audience (other subject matter experts or researchers) or does it seem intended for the general public?
  • Authority: who is authoring this information?
    • Are the authors affiliated with a college, university, or research institution? 
    • Do you know who the publisher or sponsor of this document is? In other words, who is paying for this to be published? 
    • Are the authors subject matter experts? 
  • Accuracy: are the arguments in this document supported by evidence or are otherwise truthful and accurate? 
    • Is there a works cited? 
    • Has the information been peer-reviewed? (this will be under 'publisher' information)
    • Does the tone of writing seem biased? Is the language trying to sway, persuade, or sell an idea or product?
    • Are the conclusions based on the evidence provided?
  • Purpose: why is this information accessible to you and what is it meant to do? 
    • Are there any evident [political, ideological, cultural, institutional, personal] biases?
    • Are there any advertisements throughout the document or the larger work it was published in? If so, are the advertisements targeted to an audience in a specific field or demographic? Can this indicate the information's function within the larger conversation?