Currency: (The timeliness of the information)
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When was the information published or posted?
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Has the information been revised or updated?
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Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic?
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Are the links functional?
Relevance: (The importance of the information for your needs)
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Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
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Who is the intended audience?
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Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
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Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
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Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?
Authority: (The source of the information)
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Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
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Are author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
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What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
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Does the author have a reputation?
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Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
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Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? (Examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net)
Accuracy: (The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the informational content)
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Where does the information come from?
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Is the information supported by evidence?
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Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
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Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
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Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
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Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
Purpose: (The reason the information exists)
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What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
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Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
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Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
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Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
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Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
Created by Merriam Library, California State University, Chico
