If you are a Google Scholar regular, please go to SETTINGS and add Minnesota State University Moorhead to your LIBRARY LINKS.
CARS
Credibility
· Is there a publishing or sponsoring organization? Is the organization an authority on the subject?
· Is the author listed? Is the author an authority on the subject? How do you know?
· Are there spelling errors, grammar errors, dead links, or other problems that indicate a lack of quality control?
Accuracy
· Does the information on the site agree with other sources?
· Does the site contradict itself?
· What is the date of publication or copyright?
· How recently has the site been updated?
Reasonableness
· Does the author, host, publisher, or sponsor have a bias?
· What is the motivation or purpose for creating the site?
(To sell a product? To advance a viewpoint or belief? To educate?)
Support
· Are the sources listed? Can they be checked?
· Is there a way to contact the author or organization?
© 2007, Robert Harris & Andrew Spinks
Duplicate freely for nonprofit educational use.
For more research help, see www.virtualsalt.com and www.andyspinks.com
This short tutorial from the Purdue University Libraries will reinforce the ability to evaluate sources that was introduced in the Searchpath tutorial.
