A reliable source for facts should have:

• A process in place for encouraging accuracy, verifying facts, and correcting mistakes
• Expertise in the relevant area
• A strong incentive to get things right, regardless of their overall agenda or aim

Databases give you access to content, but not all journals are the same. Some articles may be weaker than others, or some may better fit your information need.

Evaluating Scholarly Articles

• What is the focus of the journal the article is published in?
• Who are the authors? Check Scopus or Google Scholar for their area of expertise.
• When was the article published? Is it too old for your intended use?
• What questions did the authors explore? What did they try to learn?
• How did the authors conduct their study? What methodology did they use?
• How many people participated in the study? Who are the participants? Do these participants reflect the population you had in mind?
• What conclusions did the authors draw from their study?
• What kinds of sources did the authors use for their literature review?
• How much does the article help you learn?
• What does the article help you learn? What questions does the article help you answer?
• Do other similar articles have similar results?

Evaluating Online Sources and Information