When collecting sources, we will find a plethora of them across a variety of platforms. Nonetheless, not all these sources will make their way into our work. There are two main criteria that we must take into account when evaluating sources: its relevance and reliability.
Evaluate Sources for Relevance
The most recent edition of a book will be the most relevant source for our paper. It happens because researchers often modify, upgrade, or reject their views. Once we find a book that might be relevant with our topic, scan through these several parts of the book to ensure the relevance of the book:
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the index section to find the location of our keywords,
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chapters that contain our keywords the most (esp. the several first and last paragraphs of them),
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the book’s introduction and conclusion,
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prologues, summary chapters, and etc.,
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the bibliography to find other books relevant to our topics.
It also applies to online books. However, still, make sure that we are looking at the most recent ones. When it comes to journal articles, pay attention to these sections:
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the abstract, if there is any,
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the introduction and conclusion,
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the section headings (esp. Several first and last paragraphs),
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the bibliography to find other journal articles that are relevant to our topics,
If the source is online, follow these guidelines:
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search for our keywords always,
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take a quick scan at sections like introduction, overview, summary, or anything close to that,
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if the website provides a link like “site map” or “index,” check for our keywords and run through the pages that contain the keywords,
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Utilize the search function if provided by typing all our keywords to search for it.
Evaluate sources for reliability
As the well-known quote goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” we cannot judge a source until we read it. However, to find out if a source is reliable or not, Turabian (2019) has several questions that can help us in spotting a trustworthy source.
1. Is the source published by a reputable and respected press?
Sources that are published by a trusted press are most likely to be reliable (e.g. books and journal articles published by university presses). Nonetheless, it is crucial to always cast a careful look on any kind of sources before using them, especially books and articles published by particular individuals and organizations, for some of them are driven solely by ideology rather than evidence.
2. Has the book or article gone through a peer-review?
When your sources are coming from trusted and reputable press, they absolutely have undergone a peer review with the help of experts. Other sources like essays published by university presses will be reviewed by what we call editors before going public.
3. Is the author a reputable scholar?
Despite having a reputable and trusted scholar writing the source you have chosen, it is crucial to still give a thorough judgment towards their works. Be careful with the potential of biases, especially when the research is backed up by a special interest group.
4. If the source is available only online, is it sponsored by a credible and reputable organization?
A website that is under the sponsorship of a reputable organization is most likely to be reliable. If it belongs to individuals, some of them are reliable but some of them are not. You still need to verify the reliability of the sources you plan to use.
5. Is the source up-to-date?
Using the most current sources is crucial. Nevertheless, the definition of current may vary depending on the fields. For certain fields, journals, publications, or information can be outdated within months. In other fields, the relevance can last up to decades.
6. If it’s a book, does it include a bibliography or notes?
Ensure that the selected book has a bibliography or notes. If it does not, you must be careful since you are not able to trace anything that the book states or claims. When you have no access to the origin of the information the book gives, you will not be able to use the book as the reliability of the information given is questionable.
7. If it’s a website, does it incorporate the bibliography data?
When it comes to a website, incorporating information regarding who is behind the website, who does the writing, and when the writings are posted or modified is important. Lacking that information will only result in unreliability as a source.
8. If it’s a website, does it approach the topic judiciously?
Reliable online sites will always approach a topic in a manner. They pay attention to the language they use, the spelling, the grammar, the tone of voice, and the punctuation.
The following three questions below are important for advanced researchers.
9. If it’s a book, has it been well-reviewed?
Many fields have indexes that tell you reviews of books. The indexes contain reviews and criticism. If the book has gotten an adequate amount of review, then you can infer that the book is reliable.
10. Has the source been frequently referenced by others?
You can conclude that a source is reliable and noteworthy when you find out that it has been frequently cited by fellow researchers.
The ten questions listed above can not fully guarantee whether a source is reliable. Nevertheless, it can instill logical confidence in your sources.