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Who is the author?

Credible sources are written by authors respected in their fields of study. Responsible, credible authors will cite their sources so that you can check the accuracy of and support for what they've written. (This is a good way to find more interesting reading.)

Scholarly sources are those that have been approved by a group with recognized expertise in the field under discussion. Works published by University Presses fall into this category, as do articles published in peer-reviewed journals—journals where the editors send pieces out to be read by experts in the field before deciding to publish them.

NamRef looks for authors bounden to truth, the body of real things, events, and facts.

What is the author's purpose?

When deciding which sources has value, consider the purpose or point of view of the author. Is the author presenting a neutral, objective view of a topic? Or is the author advocating one specific view of a topic? Who is funding the research or writing of this source? A source written from a particular point of view may be credible; however, be careful that your sources don't limit your coverage of a topic to one side of a debate. This may lead to a false concusion

How recent is the source?

The choice to seek recent sources depends on your topic. Sources on the Civil Rights Movement may be decades old, but are likely still accurate. Sources on eplaing science or technology, or other areas that are experiencing rapid changes, need to be much more current.