Skip to Main Content
Begley Library Homepage banner

Research Handbook: Evaluating Your Sources

If at any point you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact one of our librarians.

It is important to evaluate your sources before using them. You can use the acronym KOALA to help you remember how to evaluate a source. 

Knowledge

Objective

Accuracy

Leaning

Applicability

There is a rubric you can use to evaluate your source. There is one provided for each of the terms above.  Add up the total number at the end to see how you rated the source as a whole.  Consider if this is a source you should use.

Click on each tab to learn about each criteria.

Knowledge has three main questions to consider:

  • Is the author knowledgeable on the subject?
  • What are their credentials?
  • What makes the author an expert on this subject?

You can answer this using the below rubric

Points 3 2 1 0

Knowledge

  • What are the author's credentials?
  • What makes them an expert on this topic?
  • Does the author have an educational background related to the topic?
  • Is the author affiliated with an educational institution or other reputable source?
 The author has credentials that show they are an expert in this topic (they might have a degree in this field, work at a university, have experience with this topic, etc.) This information was written by a known organization (known - most people are aware of that organization) The author is not an expert but has some knowledge in the topic (a student, a fan, a hobbyist, etc.)

It is unclear who wrote this information

OR

The author is not qualified to write on this topic.

 

Objective has four main questions to consider:

  • What is the purpose of this source?
  • Is it persuasive or informative?
  • Is it educational or entertaining?
  • Who is the target audience (children, students, general public, experts, etc.)?

You can answer this using the below rubric

Points 3 2 1 0

Objective

  • Why was this information published?
  • Does it have an agenda or is it purely informational?
  • Is the information persuasive or objective?
  • Is the information educational or entertaining?
  • What is the target audience for this information (children, students, general public, experts, etc.)?
  • Is the information presented as fact or opinion?

To promote unbiased scholarship on this topic.

Empirical research with unbiased sponsors is preferred.

Geared towards an expert audience.

Information is purely informational, educational, and unbiased.

 To provide factual knowledge on the topic to adults. Some opinion may be included. To sell something, persuade someone, promote an idea, or provide knowledge to children.

For personal or entertainment purposes

OR

To mislead or promote propaganda

Accuracy has six main questions to consider:

  • Is this the latest information on the topic?
  • Can the information be verified in other sources?
  • When was it published?
  • Did the author list their references?
  • Has it been updated?
  • Are links for online sources functional?

You can answer this using the below rubric

Points 3 2 1 0

Accuracy

  • Does the topic require current sources?
  • Is older information still accurate?
  • Has it been revised?
  • Is the information sufficiently current for your purpose?
  • Can you use older sources, or did your instructor indicate a timeframe when the source needed to be published?
  • Can the information be verified elsewhere (are there references to other sources)?
  • When was this information published?
  • Is it out of date?
  • If it's a website, has it been updated recently? Do the links still work?
 The information is less than 5 years old (or whatever timeframe your instructor provided) The information is older, but not necessarily out of date (Some topics might not need extremely up-to-date information). The information is clearly out of date for the topic.

It is unclear when the information was published.

Leaning has three main questions to consider:

  • Is the author or publisher known to have any particular biases?
  • Does the author or publisher regularly spin stories to favor a certain side of a topic?
  • What is the reputation of the author and/or publisher?

You can answer this using the below rubric

Points 3 2 1 0

Leaning

  • Who or what published this source?
  • What is the reputation of the source?
  • Is the publisher or author known to have particular biases?
  • Does the source regularly spin stories to favor a certain side of a topic?
 Published by a scholarly journal, the US government, or a university press. Published by a known organization (such as the ACLU or the AARP), a reputable publishing house, a magazine, or a newspaper. Published by an unknown organization (unknown - most people aren't aware of it).

Self-published (blogs, personal websites, fan sites, vanity presses, etc.).

Applicability has three main questions to consider:

  • Is the content related to your topic?
  • Does it help you answer a research question or provide background information?
  • Is the information too simple or overly detailed?

You can answer this using the below rubric

Points 3 2 1 0

Applicability

  • Does this source contain well-researched information that directly supports your research and fits your information need?
  • Is the content related to your topic?
  • Are all aspects of the topic covered?
  • Does the source add new or unique information about your topic?
  • Is the information too simple or overly detailed?
 The vast majority of this source contains useful, well-researched information on your topic. At least 50% of the source contains useful information on your topic.

Only a small part of the source contains information on your topic

OR

Information is not well-researched / documented with footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations.

The source mentions your topic but doesn't spend more than a few words on it.

Ask Us 24/7

Ask Us 24/7

Contact Us

    Location: Learning Commons

    Email: libraryservices@sunysccc.edu

    Phone: 518-381-1235