Evaluate Research Sources: Evaluating Library Sources

Wait! I have to evaluate sources found in the MCC Library, too? I thought the library only contained reliable sources!

That's what you might be thinking as you read this. No, sources from the MCC Library will not include disinformation. However, that doesn't mean that every source from the MCC Library will be suitable for every assignment.

Steps for Evaluating MCC Library Sources

Adapted from Purdue OWL's Evaluating Sources: General Guidelines page. 

• Ask, "Does this source meet the assignment requirements?" Your instructor might require peer-reviewed sources, sources of a certain page length or publication date range, or sources that include a specific type of research, like interviews or double-blind experiments. 

• Read the introduction or preface. What is the author's purpose? If the source is a book, check the Table of Contents (at the front) and Index (at the back). Is the topic covered sufficiently? If not, search for synonyms in the Index or read the first few paragraphs to decide if it has enough relevant information.

• Determine the intended audience. Evaluate the author's vocabulary, information level, and assumptions about you, the reader. Are they suitable for your needs? Scholarly sources target specific audiences, while popular sources are for general readers. If scholarly sources are too dense, choose more general ones.

• Determine if the information is fact or opinion. A fact is a known truth, while an opinion reflects someone's thoughts. For opinions, check if the author provides solid reasons and considers other viewpoints. An opinion-based source isn't always unreliable, but be sure the author acknowledges differing perspectives. 

• Identify the language. Is it objective or emotional? Objective language deals with facts, while emotional language evokes feelings in the reader. Fact-based sources use objective language, but opinion-based sources are more likely to include emotional language.

• Evaluate the evidence. Begin your research with sources containing general information. As you dive deeper, prioritize comprehensive sources. For opinion-based sources, evaluate the supporting evidence. Make sure factual sources don't oversimplify the topic. 

• Check the currency. When was the source published? Certain info becomes outdated due to new research, but some sources remain reliable after a century. Scientific topics require the most current info, while historical topics may require sources from the time of the event.

Book review articles and encyclopedia entries, despite being common in college libraries, are usually not acceptable as research sources. Book reviews are short and subjective. Encyclopedia entries provide superficial overviews without critical analysis or peer-review.

Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sources

Your instructors may require you to use primary or secondary sources for research projects. Or, they may forbid you from using tertiary sources. Not sure what those are? Check out the slides below!

More Source Types

All primary, secondary, and tertiary sources can be divided into three categories, based on the field that publishes them.

Scholarly Sources

• Written by scholars, scientists, and experts with strong authority
• Almost always peer-reviewed
• Contain complex language and in-depth examinations of ideas
• Aim to inform and share knowledge and research with other scholars

Industry Sources

• Written by people in specific industries with varying levels of authority
• Highly unlikely to be peer-reviewed
• Contain industry-specific articles about industry concepts or news
• Aim to share industry-specific knowledge with others in the same field

Popular Sources

• Written by people with low authority who may or may not do research
• Not peer-reviewed
• Contain simple language and cover a huge variety of topics
• Aim to entertain or inform in easily understood language