Wiki Page, GOTT Clover II: Evaluate (5 of 5): Additional Clues

Wiki Page
2016-08-14T21:35:35-06:00

Besides content and author, there are some additional clues that may aid in your evaluation of both print and online sources. As always, these factors depend on your research question.

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Currency: when the source was published. Is the information the most current, outdated, or does the date not matter?

Reputation of publisher: who published the source and how they are perceived. Does a newspaper have a certain association or political bias? Is a journal particularly valued or relevant to a field? Is a book published by a university or a for-profit press? What is the background of a website or organization that publishes a source?

Attribution of sources: how other sources referenced in the work. Is there a bibliography or works cited? Are there hyperlinks to other articles or studies? Are there in-text citations that point to what another author has said?

You may find these clues will contribute to your case, but it's up to you to make the decision!