View the following video from NC State University Libraries to learn about the importance of using reliable sources and how to evaluate sources for credibility: 

The transcript for this video can be found by clicking here. 

As you conduct research, gather the following information about your sources:

1. How confident are you in the author's expertise?  Why?  What information do you see or can you find about the author or publication that indicates it is credible?  Keep in mind the publication itself may have a rigorous publication process that adds to a writer's credibility.  If you don't know much about the publication, try clicking on an "About" section or Googling to learn more about it.  You might also Google the author's name to find out more about them and their background.  

2. Describe the author's point-of-view on the subject and any possible bias.  Do they seem objective or subjective?  That is, do they look at multiple aspects of an issue or tend to ignore or openly and harshly dismiss other points-of-view?  To help with this, examine the language and tone for clues.  You might also look at how the publication is funded to determine if there may be an indication of the potential bias because of the political leanings or interests involved.  Remember, you don't have to pass over a source because it is biased.  All sources have some type of bias; however, you might choose another to pair with this one that contains a different perspective to balance the information.

3. When was the source published and how does that affect its usefulness to you?  Typically, the more recent the information is, the better.  That is especially true for rapidly changing subject areas like technology or pop culture.  However, if you are looking for a historical perspective or to see change, an older source may be useful.  If you find something useful that you think is too old, try using key words to search again and see if there is updated information about that same topic or issue. 

Note to teachers: You might incorporate this information into an annotated bibliography's requirements or simply have students keep these notes as they demonstrate and reflect on their research process. 

This resource was remixed from NCSU Library's "Evaluating Sources for Credibility."