Check who the author is. Are they a recognized expert, affiliated with a reputable institution, or do they have relevant credentials? Purdue Owl+1

Look at the publisher: is it a university press, a scholarly journal, or a recognized organization rather than an anonymous website?

For digital sources: if the author cannot be determined and no institution is obvious, treat the source with caution. Purdue Owl

Reliable sources contain evidence: references, citations, bibliographies, or works cited pages. Purdue Owl+1

Facts should be verifiable. Look for data, footnotes, sources the author used.

Beware of sources that make bold claims without support, or that rely purely on opinion or propaganda. The OWL distinguishes fact, opinion, and propaganda. Purdue Owl

Especially for rapidly changing fields (technology, medicine, current events), the publication date matters.

Ask: Is the information up‑to‑date? Has new research superseded it?

For some fields, older sources may still be valid; for others, currency is essential.

Ask: Who is the intended audience? Why was the source created? Purdue Owl

Is the source relevant to your research question or topic?

Consider whether the purpose is to inform, persuade, entertain, or sell — each affects trustworthiness.

If the source has a hidden agenda (e.g., marketing, advocacy) you may need to be more skeptical.

• Does the source cover the topic comprehensively or superficially?
  
  

• Is it clear what the author included (and excluded)? Are any major viewpoints or evidence missing?
  
  

• Reliable sources often provide balanced treatment and note limitations.

In academic research, peer‑reviewed journals indicate that the work was evaluated by other experts before publication.

Scholarly books and credible publishers generally have rigorous editorial processes.

For digital sources, check for editorial standards or whether the site is maintained by experts.

Online, things change rapidly. Some websites may look professional yet be misleading. The OWL suggests special caution with web sources.

Check the domain: “.edu”, “.gov”, and “.org” (depending on the organization) often carry more weight than generic “.com” sites — though domain alone isn’t enough.

Look for dates, author names, references, and check for updates or archival information.

Use lateral reading: check other sources to corroborate claims rather than relying solely on what one site says.

Even once you’ve selected a source, continue to evaluate it as you read:

• Does the argument make sense?
  
  

• Are there logical fallacies or gaps?
  
  

• Are any biases or assumptions evident?
  
  

• Would you trust the evidence if you were reviewing the work yourself?