Checklist for Evaluating Information

It is important to take a critical look at any information that you decide to believe or use. Rather than assuming a source is trustworthy, we all have to remember to ask ourselves the following questions.

Source and Authority

• Can you easily identify who wrote the information and their credentials?
• What more can you learn about the author or institution affiliated with the source? 
• Can the information be verified through its bibliography or footnotes?

Scope and Content

• What is the scope or coverage of the information: Is it brief or in depth?
• Is it written for a popular audience or is it more technical and scholarly?

Purpose and Relevance

• Is it written to inform, explain, or persuade?
• Does the information appear to be directed to a select audience?
• Does it relate well to information you found in other works?

Timeliness and Accuracy

• When was the information created or last revised?
• Is it up-to-date and accurate?
• Overall, is the information valid and current for the given topic?

Helpful college library websites explaining how to evaluate information:

How to Evaluate Books, Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers from the University of Texas at Austin

Evaluating Books and Periodicals from University of Maryland Libraries

Evaluating Information from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries

How to Evaluate Books from Colorado State University Libraries