Evaluating sources of information is an important step in the research process. With the world's information at our fingertips, it is more important than ever to evaluate sources critically for credibility, objectivity, scope and depth. Almost anyonecan publish anything online! It can be difficult to determine credibility of online sources; even if the author is listed, he or she may not always represent him or herself honestly, or he or she may represent opinions as fact. It is the researcher's responsibility to evaluate resources effectively. This guide provides information on evaluating different types of sources, questions to ask yourself while reading, print vs. Internet sources, and evaluating Internet sources.
Final Notes: Think critically of the information that you use in your research. Keep track of all sources that you use so they can be cited in your project. When in doubt, ask your librarian or teacher about the sources you are using.