Research Guides: Political Science Research Guide: Evaluating Sources

Purpose: Why was it created?
Authority: Who created this material? What are the author&rsquo;s credentials?
Scope/Coverage: What does it include and leave out?
Accuracy: Is the information provided correct?
Currency: When was it created or last updated?
Objectivity: What is the author&rsquo;s or sponsor&rsquo;s point of view?

Evaluate your Sources

Before you use a website -- or any source -- for an assignment, consider:

There are many variations on this technique -- here are links to a few of them.

The ABCD of Website Evaluation
When evaluating a web site, see if you can identify the authority, bias, currency and documentation of the site. You can also see this explained in a video. From Oklahoma City Community College.
P.R.O.V.E.N. Source Evaluation
This technique checks for purpose, relevance, objectivity, verifiability, expertise and newness. From Santa Barbara City College.
CRAAP Test
The CRAAP Test looks at currency, relevancy, authority, accuracy, and the purpose of websites. It is a list of questions to help you evaluate information you find on the web. From CSU Chico.