WGS 201 (Hamilton): Evaluating Sources

Things to consider:

• Who is the author/publisher? Are they a scholar/expert in the field?
• What is the intent of the publication - to educate, inform, sell, persuade?
• Is the information bias or objective in its presentation?
• When was the source published or last updated? How important is currency of information regarding this topic?
• Who is the intended audience of this work?
• Is the research funded by an external body? If so, does that body appear to have a vested interest in the outcome of the research?

Evaluating Information - A tutorial discussing six ways to evaluate a resource.

Choosing the Best Web Sources - An online tutorial that will help you recognize hidden web resources, determine if a site on the open web is reliable, and learn how to analyze resources on the open web.

Understanding Misinformation - Video tutorials that review common types of misinformation and share strategies for evaluating online news items.

Objectivity in Reporting - Video that defines categories of information, shows how pieces are categorized, and teaches how to evaluate news items for bias and opinion

Evaluating Digital Sources Using Lateral Reading - This tutorial teaches how to learn more about a website by leaving the website to consult other sources and learn more about the organization or authors behind the site.