Skip to Main Content
Breaking down the continuum of credibility
Evaluating sources is as easy as A B C (D)
Authority
- Who are the authors or creators?
- What are their credentials? Can you find something out about them in another place?
- Who is the publisher or sponsor?
- Are they reputable?
- What is the publisher’s interest (if any) in this information?
- If it's from a website, does it have advertisements?
Bias
- Is this fact or opinion?
- Is it biased? Can you still use the information, even if you know there is bias?
- Is the the site trying to sell you something, convert you to something or make you vote for someone?
Content
- What kind of information is included in the resource?
- Is content of the resource primarily opinion? Is is balanced?
- Is it provided for a hobbiest, for entertainment, or for a serious audience?
- Does the creator provide references or sources for data or quotations?
Date
- How recent is the information?
- Is it current enough for your topic?
- If the information is from a website, when was the site last updated?
