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Evaluating Sources

This Library Research Guide will provide you with information that you can use to critically evaluate sources including websites, articles and reports, books and ebooks, etc.

Objectives

After examining the author's credentials and the accuracy of their claims, the next step is to assess their objectives: what did they hope to accomplish by creating the information?

Information can be created for various reasons, including:

  • Academic Work: Aims to broaden understanding.
  • Advertisements: Intended to sell products or services.
  • Satirical Sites: Designed to amuse or provoke thought.
  • Malicious Sites: Created to deceive.
  • Partisan Pieces: Meant to persuade or reassure a specific audience.

While these purposes aren't inherently bad, context is crucial. Misinterpreting satire as truth can lead to misunderstandings, so it’s essential to consider the creator's intent.

Ask yourself: Why was this information created? Being aware of a source's objectives is key to defending against satire, fraud, and political agendas. 

 

Test Yourself

We should get in the habit of always asking ourselves the objectives (or purpose) of information we find online.

Take a look at these two sites. What is the objective of each site?

Site #1 This link opens in a new window

Site #2 This link opens in a new window