Authoritative

Who is the author and publisher?

A university press or professional organization may indicate authority. A periodical with the “journal” in the title usually indicates greater complexity and depth of articles than a popular magazine.

• Has the instructor mentioned the author or creator of the source?
• Have you seen the author mentioned in other sources?
• Is the author affiliated with a reputable institution, organization, or association?
• What are the author’s credentials (education, experience, etc.) and/or bias or viewpoint? 

A page's URL can also give clues:

• Organization: .org
• Educational institution: .edu
• Government entity: .gov
• Commercial firm: .com

Scholarly

How do you know if your sources are scholarly?

• Are the main points clearly stated in a logical order, and arguments well-supported?
• Does the author present alternative viewpoints, and is it clear when the author’s opinions are being stated?
• Is the information factual? Can it be verified? Are there references or a bibliography included?

Check for advertisements.

Ads, especially in the middle of articles, may indicate that a periodical is more popular than scholarly. Illustrations, such as tables, graphs, or charts, should add to the textual information. Illustrations used for entertainment purposes or to draw the eyes may indicate the source is more popular than scholarly.

Current

How do you know if your information is current enough?

Very current sources need to be used when the field or topic is changing rapidly. Use historical sources when appropriate.

When was the source published?

Locate the date in a book or journal by looking for the copyright information. On a website, look for the "last updated" information.

For more information on evaluating your sources, see our Selecting Appropriate Digital Sources Tutorial.