Currency - Timeliness of information
- When was the information published or posted?
- Has the information been revised or updated?
- Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic?
Relevance - The importance of the information for you needs
- Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level?
- Have you looked at a variety of sources before choosing this one?
- Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?
Authority - The source of the information for your needs
- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations given?
- What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
- What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?
- Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
- Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
Accuracy - The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content
- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source?
- Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
- Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
Purpose - Reason the information exists
- What is the purpose of the information?
- Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?
