Initial assessment

Published sources in this context refers to work published within the academic community. Examples include books, journal articles (specifically peer-reviewed), conference proceedings and theses. The initial assessment can be started by examining a number of components. These are:

• Abstract
• Bibliographic information
• Table of contents
• Keywords
• Bibliography

Abstract

If you are looking at a published research paper (journal article or conference proceeding), you can get a feel for the full text by reading the abstract. The abstract, which is essentially a summary of the article, is usually available before obtaining the full text. This can help you make an informed decision on whether reading the entire text will be beneficial.

Bibliographic Information

This is the written description of the source. The bibliographic information will generally consists of three main components; author, title, and publication information (where and when the item was published). These components can help in determining the usefulness of a given source by giving you an insight into relevance and currency.

Is the author known in the field? Have you already looked at the author's previous work? Is the author associated with a reputable institution or organisation? Where and when was the work published? Is it current to your needs?

The Table of Contents

You can get a broad overview of a book by looking at its table of contents. This can then help you decide whether reading the full text, or parts that seem relevant to your needs, will be useful.

Keywords

The keywords that are used in listing the source in a database or search engine can help you assess the relevance of the full text to your work. There may be author keywords (these are suggested by the author to be used in the listing) that can help you further in this process.

Bibliography

The items that your source has referenced can provide an insight into how relevant it will be to your needs. A look through the bibliography of a source can usually help you in this process. Has the author referenced a wide range of material? What journals and conferences have they focused on? Are all the sources published academic work, or is there general non-published material too (for example, websites)?

In this context, general sources relate to those which have not been published as scholarly material. Examples include websites, white papers, technical reports, government publications or personal correspondence.

While these materials can help in your research, they must be carefully considered as a reliable source on a case by case basis.

There are a number of suggested criteria to consider when looking at non-published material:

• Authority
• Scope and subject matter
• Currency and completeness
• Objectivity

Authority

Who published the document? Are the publisher's qualifications listed? If it is a website, check the domain of the document. What institution publishes this document? Is it a personal website or a known institution?

Scope and Subject Matter

Is the subject covered at an appropriate level for your needs? What is the purpose of the source? Who is the intended audience?

Currency and Completeness

When was the document created? Does it seem complete? If it is a website, when was it last updated, and is this done regularly? Are all the links active?

Objectivity

Does the author represent a certain point of view or argument that may make the source biased? Is the item sponsored by a company or organization that advocates a certain philosophy? Is the source associated to an organisation with a certain editorial position?