Evaluate Information

Use our Evaluating Information handout to find out if the information you have found is reliable and appropriate for use in a college-level course:

Evaluating Information
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Peer Reviewed or Scholarly Sources

A journal article is often considered more scholarly if it has been published in a “peer-reviewed” journal. Even peer-reviewed journals contain information that is itself not peer-reviewed, such as editorials, opinions, or letters. Remember to evaluate your specific article, not just the journal.

The following are some clues that a publication is peer-reviewed:

• The journal is published or sponsored by a professional scholarly society or association (e.g. the American Psychological Association).
• There is a list of reviewers or an editorial board inside the front cover, back cover, or on the first few pages (this type of journal is also knows as a “juried” or “refereed” journal).

Scholarly Source Checklist

The following list provides characteristics that are usually (although not always) found in scholarly sources:

• The author’s credentials are listed (usually at the beginning or the end of the document).
• The information presented is based on either original research or authorities in the field (as opposed to personal opinion).
• The source has a bibliography or list of references. 
• The source has been published by a reputable institution.
• The title of the source reflects its content. 
• There are supporting diagrams or illustrations. 
• If your source is an article, there is an abstract or summary at the beginning.
• The information has been organized into at least two of the following sections:
  • Introduction or Literature Review
  • Theory or Background
  • Subjects
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion