Skip to Main Content
It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.
Lander University Library Services

PEES 283: PEES 283

Databases for In Class Activity

Additional Library Resources

Check out our A - Z List of Databases for other resources relating to your topic. These databases include streaming videos, multimedia, news, ebooks, reference sources, and journal articles.

Citing Your Sources

Need More Resources?

If you can't find books or articles through our Library, look through our statewide consortium PASCAL.

Still need more resources? Request books or articles from another library through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), usually free of charge to current Lander students, faculty, and staff.

Evaluating Sources

Understanding Expertise

Assessing Expertise

Creative Commons Licenses

Creative Commons License CC by NC 4.0

Citizen Literacy was created by Robert Detmering, Amber Willenborg, and Terri Holtze for University of Louisville Libraries and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

P.R.O.V.E.N. Source Evaluation by Ellen Carey (last updated 2/4/2021) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

P.R.O.V.E.N Method

Purpose: How and why the source was created.

  • Why does this information exist—to educate, inform, persuade, sell, entertain? Do the authors, publishers, or sponsors state this purpose, or try to disguise it? Is the source deliberately trying to misinform?
  • Why was this information published in this particular type of source (book, article, website, blog, etc.)?
  • Who is the intended audience—the general public, students, experts?

Relevance: The value of the source for your needs.

  • Is the type of source appropriate for how you plan to use it and for your assignment’s requirements?
  • How useful is the information in this source, compared to other sources? Does it answer your question or support your argument? Does it add something new and important to your knowledge of the topic?
  • How detailed is the information? Is it too general or too specific? Is it too basic or too advanced?

Objectivity: The reasonableness and completeness of the information. 

  • Do the authors present the information thoroughly and professionally? Do they use strong, emotional, manipulative, or offensive language?
  • Do the authors, publishers, or sponsors have a particular political, ideological, cultural, or religious point of view? Do they acknowledge this point of view, or try to disguise it?
  • Does the source present fact or opinion? Is it biased? Does it offer multiple points of view and critique other perspectives respectfully? Does it leave out, or make fun of, important facts or perspectives?

Verifiability: The accuracy and truthfulness of the information.

  • Do the authors support their information with factual evidence? Do they cite or link to other sources? Can you verify the credibility of those sources? Can you find the original source of the information?
  • What do experts say about the topic? Can you verify the information in other credible sources?
  • Does the source contradict itself, include false statements, or misrepresent other sources?
  • Are there errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar?

Expertise: The authority of the authors and the source.

  • What makes the authors, publishers, or sponsors of the source authorities on the topic? Do they have related education, or personal or professional experience? Are they affiliated with an educational institution or respected organization? Is their expertise acknowledged by other authorities on the topic? Do they provide an important alternative perspective? Do other sources cite this source?
  • Has the source been reviewed by an editor or through peer review?
  • Does the source provide contact information for the authors, publishers, and/or sponsors?

Newness: The age of the information.

  • Is your topic in an area that requires current information (such as science, technology, or current events), or could information found in older sources still be useful and valid?
  • When was the information in the source first published or posted? Are the references/links up to date?
  • Are newer sources available that would add important information to your understanding of the topic?