• Author

  What are the author's credentials? Is he/she considered knowledgable and respected in the field? Has the author been cited in other sources? Is the author associated with a university or other reputable organization?

• Timeliness

  When was the information published? Check for newer editions or more recent articles on the topic. Research in technology areas can change very rapidly. Be aware of dates. In some areas, a book or article that is a year old can be out of date.

• Source

  Was the article published in a scholarly journal? Scholarly journals publish articles by authors who are doing research in a particular field or are considered authorities in their field. Most are published by professional organizations or university presses. Articles should include references, footnotes or bibliography. These can all be used to find additional information. See our Is it a Scholarly Journal? guide for more assistance.

If you are interested in analyzing web sites, then take a look at our guide to Evaluating Web Sites.