PRDV010: Evaluating Sources and References

When evaluating a research paper or scientific journal, be sure to examine the index, footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography. Look at the publication information in the list of references and sources. Do you see university presses? Do you see recent publications? Look at the author's credentials on their biography page. Are they a member of a political organization, think-tank, or another organization that expresses a social or political agenda?

Watch this video for an overview of how to analyze the credibility of a website and its sponsoring organization.