Evaluating books and articles

AUTHOR  (WHO?)

• Who is the author?
• What are the author's qualifications?
• Is the author affiliated with an institution?
• Is the author an expert on the subject?   Has the author published other materials on the subject?
• If a book, is the publisher reputable - a university press, academic press or commercial publisher?

• Are sources cited?  Is there a bibliography or a list of references?
• If facts or statistics are given, are they from reputable sources?
• Does it give evidence to support an argument, or refute an argument?
• Does it cover different points of view, theories, "schools of thought"? Is it promoting the view of a certain group or organisation?

CURRENCY  (WHEN?)

• Is the year of publication given?*  If a book, is this the most recent edition?
• If it is not current or recent, is it still useful or relevant for your assignment? Some topics, for example those in health or information technology, probably require current information.

ORIGIN   (WHERE?)

• Is it relevant for what you are doing?  For example, if you are looking for Australian materials, you may want to look for something published in Australia or about Australia.
• If an article, is it published in a magazine, or is it from a refereed/peer-reviewed/scholarly journal? **

AUDIENCE   (WHY?)

• What is the purpose of the book or article?  To inform or teach? To persuade? To sell something?  To entertain?
• Is it written for the general public, university students, researchers, or experts?
• Is it too simple, too technical, or too advanced for your needs?
• Is it objective, or is it promoting the view of a certain group or organisation?