E V A L U AT I N G S O U R C E S

P R E PA R E D B Y : K R I S T I N E J E A N A R I B , L P T
OBJECTIVES
• Identify the features of valid sources
• Determine the purpose for evaluating sources
• Identify sources that are acceptable and not acceptable in
academic writing.
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Relevance Of The Source To The Research Topic
• How well does the source support your topic?

Which of the sources would you pick if you are doing a research on
the Law of Supply and Demand?
a. An Introduction to Theories on Economics
b. How to Invest and get Rich?
c. 105 Habits of Highly Effective Businessmen
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Authority/ Author’s Qualifications
• Is the author’s name identified?
• Is the author’s background, education, or training related to the
topic?
• Is he/she a professor in a reputable university?
• What are his/her publications?
• Is the contact information of the author available?
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Authority/ Author’s Qualifications

Which of the following texts would you use for a research regarding
the Holocaust?
a. Dark Shadows of the Past: A Comparative Study on the Holocaust
and the Death March; authored by Mao Guevarra, Ph.D. in History
b. Analyzing Nazism and Extremist Supremacy, authored by Adolf
Mussolini, RMD
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Currency/Date of Publication
• What is the date of the publication?

Which material will you use for a research on electromagnetism?

a. Notes on Recent Researches in Electricity and Magnetism, 1853
b. Basics of Electromagnetism, 2015
c. The foundation of Studies in Electromagnetism, 2009
d. Fundamentals of Physics, 2013
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Contents/Accuracy of Information

• Does the author have a lot of citations in his or her text and/or a
bibliography or works cited section?

• What is the tone and style of writing?

• Is the information inaccurate?

• Is the information obviously biased or prejudiced?

Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Contents/Accuracy of Information

Which of these sources would you use for a research on Marxism?

a. The Dark Side of Marxism, Hen Sy
b. Karl Marx and the Fundamentals of Marxism, Fried Angle
c. Effects of Marxism in an Industrialized World, Rick Carlos
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Location of Sources
• Where is the source published? Is it published digitally or in print?
• Is it a book, an academic journal, or a reputable news source such as
www.nytimes.com or www.economist.com?
• Does it provide complete publication information such as
author/editor’s title, date of publication, and publisher?
• What is the URL of the website?
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Location of Sources
Evaluation of Web How to interpret the
Documents basics
1. Accuracy of Web Documents Accuracy
• Who wrote the page and can you • Make sure author provides email or a
contact him or her? contact address/phone number
• What is the purpose of the • Know the distinction between author
document why was it produced? and Webmaster
• Is this person qualified to write this
document?
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Location of Sources
Evaluation of Web How to interpret the
Documents basics
2. Authority of Web Documents Authority
• Who published the document and is • What credentials are listed for the
it separate from the “Webmaster”? authors?
• Check the domain of the document, • Where is the document published?
what institution publishes this
document?
• Does the publisher list his or her
qualifications?
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Location of Sources
Evaluation of Web How to interpret the
Documents basics
3. Objectivity of Web Documents Objectivity
• What goals/objectives does this page • Determine if page is a mask for
meet? advertising. If so, information might be
• How detailed is the information? biased
• What opinions (if any) are expressed • View any Web page as you would an
by the author? infomercial on television. Ask yourself
why it was written and for whom?
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Location of Sources
Evaluation of Web How to interpret the
Documents basics
4. Currency of Web Documents Currency

• When was it produced? • How many dead links are on the

• When was it updated? page?
• How up-to-date are the links (if any)? • Are the links current or updated
regularly?
• Is the information on the page
outdated?
 Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Location of Sources
Evaluation of Web Documents How to interpret the basics
5. Coverage of the Web Coverage
Documents • If the page requires special software to
• Are the links (if any) evaluated and do view the information, how much are
they complement the documents’ you missing if you don’t have the
theme? software?
• Is it all images or a balance of text and • Is it free or it there a fee to obtain the
images? information?
• Is the information presented cited • Is there an option for text only, or
correctly? frames, or a suggested browser for
better viewing?
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
• Accuracy. If your page lists the author and institution that
published the page and provides a way of contacting him/her and…
• Authority. If your page list the author’s credentials and its domain
is preferred (.edu, .gov, .org or .net) and…
• Objectivity. If your page provides accurate information with limited
advertising and it is objective in presenting the information, and…
• Currency. If your page is current and updated regularly and the
links are also up-to-date, and…
• Coverage. If you can view the information properly—not limited to
fees, browser technology, or software requirement, then…You may have a Web Page
that could be of value to
your research!
Criteria In Evaluating Sources
Location of Sources

Which of these online sources would you consider using for a

research?
a. www.heyheyheynewsinquirer.com
b. www.tokyouniversity.edu
c. www.upd.edu.ph
 Write T if the statement Is True and F
if it is False
1. Sources found in peer-reviewed journals are credible
2. Sources found on television or magazine may not be trusted
3. Sources not written by experts are not valid
4. Sources published online should be used as reference
5. Sources that are personal and editable such as blogs and
Wikipedia acceptable if they cite their reference
 Write T if the statement Is True and F
if it is False
6. Sources that have no relevance to your research problem
should not be used.
7. Sources which have in-text and reference citations are credible
8. Sources whose authors are affiliated with any reputable
academic institution are not useful
9. Outdated sources should not be considered
10.Sources used as reference should be credible