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Graduate Studies in Leadership (MA & PhD)

Evaluating Sources

Evaluating Sources

When working on an academic paper, what considerations are most important when selecting and evaluating sources, regardless of the specific field of study?

Here are 4 considerations when assessing whether or not a source is right for use in assignments.

  • Author: 
    • Who wrote it and what are their credentials? What larger organization are they affiliated with? If an author is searched in Google, what is found? Is this article in their area of expertise? Can the author or organization be contacted?
  • Bias:
    • Can the angle/slant/bias in the article or on an affiliated website be identified? What is the purpose of the study or content—to prove something to a particular group? Can the claims be corroborated with at least two other independent sources?
  • Content: 
    • Is the source accurate? Are there basic mistakes in grammar, dead links, or spelling? When was it published, posted, or last updated? Does it contain claims that contradict things known to be true or even other claims within the article itself?
  • Support: 
    • Does the content have citations or sources? Can the source(s) be verified? Do the sources' arguments support the claims of the topic being researched?
Methods for Evaluating Sources

Purpose: How and why the source was created.

  • Why does this information exist—to educate, inform, persuade, sell, entertain? Do the authors, publishers, or sponsors state this purpose or try to disguise it? Is the source deliberately trying to misinform?
  • Why was this information published in this particular type of source (e.g., book, article, website, blog)?
  • Who is the intended audience—the general public, students, experts?

Relevance: The value of the source for your needs.

  • Is the type of source appropriate for how you plan to use it and for your assignment’s requirements?
  • How useful is the information in this source compared to other sources? Does it answer your question or support your argument? Does it add something new and important to your knowledge of the topic?
  • How detailed is the information? Is it too general or too specific? Is it too basic or too advanced?

Objectivity: The reasonableness and completeness of the information. 

  • Do the authors present the information thoroughly and professionally? Do they use strong, emotional, manipulative, or offensive language?
  • Do the authors, publishers, or sponsors have a particular political, ideological, cultural, or religious point of view? Do they acknowledge this point of view or try to disguise it?
  • Does the source present fact or opinion? Is it biased? Does it offer multiple points of view and critique other perspectives respectfully? Does it leave out or make fun of important facts or perspectives?

Verifiability: The accuracy and truthfulness of the information.

  • Do the authors support their information with factual evidence? Do they cite or link to other sources? Can you verify the credibility of those sources? Can you find the original source of the information?
  • What do experts say about the topic? Can you verify the information in other credible sources?
  • Does the source contradict itself, include false statements, or misrepresent other sources?
  • Are there errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar?

Expertise: The authority of the authors and the source.

  • What makes the authors, publishers, or sponsors of the source authorities on the topic? Do they have related education or personal or professional experience? Are they affiliated with an educational institution or respected organization? Is their expertise acknowledged by other authorities on the topic? Do they provide an important alternative perspective? Do other sources cite this source?
  • Has the source been reviewed by an editor or gone through peer review?
  • Does the source provide contact information for the authors, publishers, and/or sponsors?

Newness: The age of the information.

  • Is your topic in an area that requires current information (such as science, technology, or current events), or could information found in older sources still be useful and valid?
  • When was the information in the source first published or posted? Are the references/links up to date?
  • Are newer sources available that would add important information to your understanding of the topic?

P.R.O.V.E.N. Source Evaluation by Ellen Carey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The SIFT method helps you quickly evaluate online content for credibility, accuracy, and reliability. 

Use the SIFT method when you are:

  • Reading or sharing new articles or social media posts

  • Encountering surprising claims, quotes, or images

  • Beginning your research process and want to ensure source quality

  • Evaluating websites, blogs, or opinion pieces

SIFT stands for:

S – Stop

  • Pause before trusting, sharing, or using a source.

  • Ask yourself: Do I know this source? Is it trustworthy?

I – Investigate the Source

  • Research the creator or publisher of the information.

  • What is their background, agenda, or expertise?

F – Find Better Coverage

  • Look for other trusted sources that report on the same claim or story.

  • Compare information for consistency and reliability.

T – Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to the Original Source

  • Follow links or citations back to the original context.

  • Make sure information has not been taken out of context or misrepresented.

Subjects: Leadership