ACCM4600 Accounting Theory and Contemporary Issues Information Source Evaluation See the source analysis template to be completed. When evaluating information, you should be critical in your reading and consider all aspects of the article or other document. The purpose of this analysis is to determine the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. Initial appraisal Selecting the most appropriate literature to support your argument should be based on a number of factors. A. Author 1. What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation (where he or she works), educational background, past writings, or experience? Is the book or article written on a topic in the author's area of expertise? You can use the biographical information located in the publication itself to help determine the author's affiliation and credentials. 2. Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars. For this reason, always note those names that appear in many different sources. 3. Is the author associated with a reputable institution or organization? What are the basic values or goals of the organization or institution? B. Date of Publication When was the source published? Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Topic areas of continuing and rapid development, such as business, demand more current information. C. Publisher of texts Note the publisher. If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly. Although the fact that the publisher is reputable does not necessarily guarantee quality, it does show that the publisher may have high regard for the source being published. D. Title of Journal Is this a scholarly or a popular journal? Is it peer reviewed? Critical Analysis of the Content Content analysis Having made an initial appraisal, you should now examine the body of the source. Reading the article abstract and scanning the table of contents of a journal or magazine issue is useful. As with books, the presence and quality of a bibliography at the end of the article may reflect the care with which the authors have prepared their work. A. Intended Audience What type of audience is the author addressing? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience? Is this source too elementary, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs? B. Objective Reasoning 1. Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? It is not always easy to separate fact from opinion. Facts can usually be verified; opinions, though they may be based on factual information, evolve from the interpretation of facts. Skilled writers can make you think their interpretations are facts. 2. Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Assumptions should be reasonable. Note errors or omissions. 3. Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line with other works you have read on the same topic? The more radically an author departs from the views of others in the same field, the more carefully and critically you should scrutinize his or her ideas. 4. Is the author's point of view objective and impartial? Is the language free of emotion-arousing words and bias? C. Coverage 1. Does the work update other sources, substantiate other materials you have read, or add new information? Does it extensively or marginally cover your topic? You should explore enough sources to obtain a variety of viewpoints. 2. Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Primary sources are the raw material of the research process. Secondary sources are based on primary sources. D. Writing Style Is the publication organized logically? Are the main points clearly presented? Do you find the text easy to read? Is the author's argument repetitive? Adapted from Cornell University 2014 Critically Analyzing Information Sources: Critical Appraisal and Analysis http://guides.library.cornell.edu/criticallyanalyzing Retrieved 12 November 2014