Content analysis
If you decide a source is relevant from your initial assessment, then you should examine the content. The following criteria can help you begin to analyse the text.
Target Audience
Who is the intended audience of the source? Determining the target audience of a source can help you in forming a decision on the relevancy of the work to you.
Objectivity
Is the information presented fact or opinion? Facts can be verified, opinions may evolve from interpreting facts incorrectly. Opinions may prove to be impartial and subjective. Separating fact from opinion may prove problematic. Does the information appear well-researched and supported by relevant evidence?
Coverage
Does the work update other sources, substantiate other material, or add new information to the field? How does it cover the topic you are interested in? Exploring a number of sources can offer you a diverse range of viewpoints.
Writing Style
Is the writing of a high standard? Does this match what you would expect?
Relevance & Currency
The initial assessment of a source can help in this process, for example the date of publication and the author. By starting to read the abstract of a paper, or a few pages of a relevant chapter in a book, you can begin to grasp the relevance of the source. The information in front of you may be of high quality but not actually relevant to the question you are asking nor to the scope of your search.
