Checklist for assessing sources
Reliability
- Is the author a current expert? What is his/her position?
- Can the author be contacted? And how (email, phone, address, ...)?
- Has the author written anything else on this topic?
- Is the author often cited by others?
Correctness
- What is the purpose of the information source (advertising, propaganda,...)?
- Does the source contain facts or opinions?
- Are the opinions substantiated?
- Is the information consistent with information in other sources? Are there sources that report the same facts?
- Is the source usable? Does the information fulfil the information need?
Completeness
- Is there an overview of the sources used?
- Are all angles covered?
- Does the source contain the full text? Or is it a summary or a reference?
Topicality
- How recent is the information?
- Is the information still current, or has it become outdated?
- Has a new understanding of the topic developed in the meantime?
Verifiability
- Does the information contain references and/or a literature list?
- Have you read the sources in the literature list to check whether the information is correct and whether you agree with the interpretation?
(Boekhorst, Kwast & Wevers, 2004, pp. 241-247).