Comprehensiveness of sources

As a researcher, you will come across a wide variety of information on your topic. Be aware that all information will not have the same value.

Review your information sources to determine their usefulness and quality by considering the following:

• Audience – is the material written for a popular audience, for a general scholar, or an expert in a specialist area of a discipline.
• Is everyday or specialist vocabulary used? Is a bibliography included?
• Relevance – does the source cover the topic adequately and is it appropriate for your topic? How detailed is the information?
• Timeliness – how old is the information? Can you find a more recent source? Is historical research appropriate for your topic?