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Discovery Seminar - Pohl- Fall 2019

  Evaluating Sources

Some of the questions you should ask when evaluating sources of information are:

  • Audience? Who will be reading this source?
  • Author? Who wrote this source?
  • Credentials? What are the credentials of the author? Can you tell if they are an expert on the subject? 
  • Are there sources or links to other information about the topic? Yes (If so, what kind?) or No.
  • Purpose? What is the purpose of this source?
  • Language? How easy or difficult to read or understand will most people find this source?
  • Publisher? Who published this source?
  • Source of information reliable? Would you trust this source? 
  • Scholarly/Popular? Is this source scholarly or popular?
  • Peer Review? Is this source peer-reviewed? How can you tell?

  Popular, Scholarly, and Trade Publications


Comparison Chart


The chart below explains how to identify and weigh the different characteristics of popular, scholarly, and trade publications.

                                    Chart originally created by Vanessa Garofalo, MLIS for Easter Library.

Ulrichsweb Serials Directory


Ulrichsweb Serials Directory can be used to verify the intended audience of a serial publication (also called a periodical) and whether or not it is considered scholarly. It is also a way to check whether or not a scholarly journal is peer reviewed.