Once you've found some sources, you need to evaluate them to see if they will be useful in your paper. Consider if the information presented in the article is trustworthy and reliable using the questions below.
Currency
When was the article published? Is the research presented new and up-to-date?
Many topics expand and change frequently so look for articles within the past 3-5 years to make sure the information will be timely and accurate.
Reliability
Where was the article published? Look for articles in scholarly journals or books published by university presses or academic publishers. These sources will have gone through peer review or editorial vetting.
Does the article cite other scholarly sources? A reliable article will contain references to other trustworthy sources to support their claims.
Authority
Who is the author? What are their credentials and affiliations? Check if the author is associated with a university or other institution. You can also research the author or their university to see if you can find more information.
Purpose
Who is the intended audience? Was this article written for other scientists and academics or for the general public? Determine if the article is providing information to add to the scholarly conversation or if their is any other motive.
All articles on AccessScience are written by experts in their field, including 45 authors who are Nobel prize winners. Check the byline under the article title for information on the institutional affiliation of that author.
