Subject Guide: Sociology: Evaluating Sources

Is the author well qualified?

• What makes them an expert on the topic? Advanced education (Masters or Doctorates)? Career specific to that field, such as a professor teaching that topic or a researcher? Any other publications they have written related to the topic?
• Use databases Gale Literature or Gale Biography in Context to locate biographical information, such as from Contemporary Authors. 
• Search the internet, looking for non-social-media sites, typically .edu or .gov or where they work.
• Check the article itself. Often there will be a short biographical paragraph at the end or beginning of the article.

How reliable is the periodical? 

• If you found the article using a database, check the Source (EBSCO) or From (Gale) line for the name of the periodical. It should be hyperlinked in blue, so click on it and check the information given:
  • Is it peer-reviewed? 
  • Who is the audience? Is it academic?
  • What topics does it regularly publish about, thereby making it an expert on those topics?
  • If the publication's URL is given, click on it and go to the website to learn more about the history and mission.
• You can also search for the periodical using Gale Academic OneFile's Publication Search to find out the above information.
• Search the Internet for the name of the periodical and find its website. Go to the About section to find out more about the publication.
  • What is the mission or purpose?
  • Who is its audience?
  • Does it have a peer-review process for publishing articles?
  • Is there any bias?
  • Is it reliable and trustworthy?

Is this source current enough for your topic?

• It is best not to use sources more than 5 years old for topics related to:
  • Current events, technology, medical or scientific topics, or anything we are improving our understanding.
• It might be fine to use sources older than 5 years for topics related to:
  • Historical events, primary sources, anything where our understanding of the topic has not changed, or comparing past understandings to today.

Is this source relevant to your topic, the arguments, or the information needed for your research assignment?

• Is the majority of the information specifically on your topic?
• Will the information support your arguments in your research paper/speech?
• Is the information well-researched? Do they cite their sources?
• Is this the type of information you need, such as statistics, case studies, or primary sources?
• Is this source appropriate for college-level research? 

Is the author well qualified?

• What makes them an expert on the topic? Advanced education (Masters or Doctorates)? Career specific to that field, such as a professor teaching that topic or a researcher? Any other publications they have written related to the topic?
• Use databases Gale Literature or Gale Biography in Context to locate biographical information, such as from Contemporary Authors. 
• Search the internet, looking for non-social-media sites, typically .edu or .gov or where they work.
• Check the book jacket. Often there will be a short biographical paragraph on the inside back flap of the dust jacket, or on the back of the book. 

What is the reputation of the book's publishing company?

• Was the book published by a University Press? They typically publish academic works for the purpose of sharing scholarly research.
• Search the Internet for the name of the publishing company and find its website. Go to the About section to find out more about them.
  • What is the mission or purpose?
  • Who is its audience?
  • Is there any bias?
  • Is it reliable and trustworthy?

How was the book reviewed by critics?

• Book reviewers provide an analysis of the book, often including the credibility of the author and the quality of the work. 
• Check a database such as EBSCO's Academic Search Complete or Gale Literature for a book review.
• If still no review found, search the Internet, such as Amazon Books, but stay away from customer reviews.

Is this source current enough for your topic?

• It is best not to use sources more than 5 years old for topics related to:
  • Current events, technology, medical or scientific topics, or anything we are improving our understanding.
• It might be fine to use sources older than 5 years for topics related to:
  • Historical events, primary sources, anything where our understanding of the topic has not changed, or comparing past understandings to today.

Is this source relevant to your topic, the arguments, or the information needed for your research assignment?

• Is the majority of the information specifically on your topic?
• Will the information support your arguments in your research paper/speech?
• Is the information well-researched? Do they cite their sources?
• Is this the type of information you need, such as statistics, case studies, or primary sources?
• Is this source appropriate for college-level research? 

At the BC Library, our very own librarian, Faith Bradham, developed a tool that can help you evaluate any type of source. It is a rubric, much like professors often use grading rubrics for assignments, to grade (evaluate) the source you are considering using for research. There are five categories to evaluate and score anywhere from 0-3 points, and then add up the scores to compare to a point scale to determine whether you have found a credible source for academic research. The categories to evaluate are date, author, publisher, purpose, and relevance. To help you remember the five categories, we call this the DAPPR Test Rubric. You can find the rubric, including a downloadable version, in the box below.

Watch the following 2 videos to see how scoring a source on the DAPPR test might go from start to finish.