When evaluating sources (whether for a literature review or for any other kind of assignment) there are a few standard factors to consider:
Authority
- What are the author's credentials?
- Can you identify their institutional affiliations?
- What is the author's expertise on the subject?
Currency
- When was the source published?
- Is it outdated?
- Does it meet the time needs for your topic?
Documentation
- Does the author cite credible, authoritative sources?
- Is there evidence of scholarly research?
- Do they properly cite their sources?
Intended Audience
- Who is the intended audience? Scholars? Researchers? General audience?
Objective / Purpose
- What is the author's goal in writing it? To entertain? To inform? To influence?
- How objective is the source?
Relevancy
- Is it relevant to your topic?
- Does it provide any new information about your topic?
Andrea Reed (2012). Evaluating Content. Retrieved 15 July 2016 from Step #3: Evaluating Content: http://libguides.eastern.edu/content.php?pid=96769&sid=733338
