Finding Articles > 5: Evaluating Articles

"Challenge information and demand accountability. Stand right up to the information and ask questions. Who says so? Why do they say so? Why was this information created? Why should I believe it? Why should I trust this source? How is it known to be true? Is it the whole truth? Is the argument reasonable? Who supports it?"

Robert Harris, Evaluating Internet Research Sources

Four evaluation criteria are described here: credibility of the author, nature of the source (periodical) it appears in, apparent bias/balance and support for the article's conclusions, and currency of information provided.

The criteria you use to evaluate an article will vary, depending on the type of publication in which the article appears. As the graphic here illustrates, in a popular magazine, pay more attention to who the author is, what the "bent" or focus of the magazine is, evidence of bias in the language used, etc. In a scholarly journal, you will focus less on these and instead look at the author's conclusions and whether they seem justified. For trade publications, currency is often a key factor in evaluating articles.

5A: Consider the Author

Does this author seem to have appropriate credentials to write on this topic? Sometimes a brief biography of the author is included with the article. You can also look for other books or articles written by the same author. See Using Online Resources to Check Authority for suggestions.

5B: Consider the Source

Use a periodicals directory to learn more about the characteristics of a particular magazine or journal. One of the most comprehensive directories is Ulrich's Periodicals Directory (access here for Ohio State users only). Many libraries provide either the print or online version of this directory.

Ulrich's indicates the type of publication (trade, academic/scholarly, consumer/popular), who publishes it, and provides a brief description of content, and has short reviews for many periodicals, as shown in the illustration below.

Some free periodicals directories on the Web include:

• AJR Newslink: Magazines
• Penton Media Magazine Rack
• PubList (free but requires registration)

You may also look for the magazine or journal's home page on the Web. Examine "About Us" and "Notes for Contributors" sections, if available, to learn more about the source and its review policies. Wikipedia's Magazine category may also lead you to some useful information about publications.

5C: Consider Content

Each article sits within a larger body of literature on that topic. Be sure to look at a variety of articles on a topic and understand the larger context of the discussion.

As you read an article, ask:

• Does the author or publisher have a "vested interest" in this topic that could affect conclusions?
• Are arguments or strongly worded assertions supported with documentation (other sources)?
• For controversial topics, is the presentation balanced (alternative viewpoints are discussed)?

When practical, use peer-reviewed articles. They have been evaluated by other scholars in the field. Although you may find contradictory viewpoints on some topics, the peer reviewers have determined that the research meets basic quality standards.

When you read a research article in a scholarly journal, here are some additional questions to consider:

• What is the research question that the author investigated?
• How was this question studied (look at the Methods section of the article)?
• Does the answer to the research question make sense (findings support conclusions)?

5D: Consider Currency

If the topic of your research is time-sensitive, you should consider the age and currency of any sources that you use. For example, if your research topic is recent advances in human cloning, be sure that any articles you use have been published in the last 2-3 years.

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