Communication 4074: Evaluating Information

This guide is intended to support the research needs of upper level Communication students.

Basic Evaluation Criteria

As you decide which resources to include in your research, here are some things to think about:

Authority:  Who wrote it?  What sort of expertise do they have in this area?

Coverage:  Is it relevant to your topic?  

Objectivity:  Is there any bias?  If so, how much?

Accuracy:  Is the information correct?  Is it in alignment with other research findings or articles?  

Currency:  When was your resource produced?  Does this matter for your topic?  

Indicators of Reliability

So you've found a journal article that looks trustworthy--where can you find information that will help you apply the basic evaluation criteria?

Front cover of the periodical

Back cover of the periodical

Advertisements

Instructions to authors

Publisher of the periodical

Editors

Statement of the purpose and editorial policy

Table of contents

Bibliography and footnotes

Text

Overall quality

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