Source Evaluation Checklist
Use this checklist to assess the credibility and quality of sources during research.
Quick Assessment
For each source, answer these questions:
Authority
- Author or organization is identified
- Author has relevant expertise or credentials
- Organization is reputable in this field
- Contact information or about page is available
Accuracy
- Information can be verified elsewhere
- Claims are specific and testable
- Data sources are cited
- No obvious factual errors
Currency
- Publication date is provided
- Information is recent enough for the topic
- Updates or revisions are noted
- Links and references are still active
Purpose
- Purpose of the content is clear
- Commercial interests are disclosed
- Sponsorship or funding is transparent
- Content is not purely promotional
Objectivity
- Multiple perspectives are considered
- Counterarguments are addressed
- Language is professional, not sensational
- Facts are separated from opinions
Credibility Rating
Based on the checklist above, rate the source:
High Credibility
All or most boxes checked:
- Academic journals, peer-reviewed research
- Official documentation
- Established news organizations
- Recognized industry experts
- Government or institutional reports
Medium Credibility
Some boxes checked:
- Industry blogs with author credentials
- Trade publications
- Company documentation (for their own products)
- Well-researched opinion pieces
- Conference presentations
Low Credibility
Few boxes checked:
- Anonymous sources
- Outdated information
- Promotional content
- Unverified claims
- Sources with clear bias
Red Flags
Be cautious of sources that:
- Have no author attribution
- Make extraordinary claims without evidence
- Use emotional or sensational language
- Have obvious spelling/grammar errors
- Only cite themselves
- Are promoting a product/service
- Have a clear political/ideological agenda
- Lack publication dates
- Use clickbait titles
Source Type Guidelines
Academic/Research
- Look for peer review status
- Check citation count
- Verify institutional affiliation
- Note methodology transparency
News/Journalism
- Check publication reputation
- Look for multiple sources in article
- Distinguish news from opinion
- Check for corrections/retractions
Industry/Technical
- Verify author's role and experience
- Check for conflicts of interest
- Look for practical examples
- Note recency for fast-moving fields
Official/Government
- Confirm it's the official source
- Note any political context
- Check update frequency
- Look for underlying data
User-Generated (Forums, Q&A)
- Check answer votes/acceptance
- Verify against other sources
- Note answer recency
- Consider author reputation
Recording Your Assessment
For each key source, note:
Source: [Name/URL]
Type: [Academic/News/Industry/Official/User]
Credibility: [High/Medium/Low]
Strengths: [What makes it reliable]
Weaknesses: [Any concerns]
Use for: [What aspects of research]