During the research process you will need to evaluate the extent to which the author's perspective or the format in which the information is presented plays a role in quality, relevance, authority, and reliability of a source.
You will also need to evaluate the breadth and depth of the sources you have found in your research. Important questions to ask could include (1):
- Author
- Who is the author (or creator) of this source?
- What other works has this person/creator produced?
- What can you find out about this person(s)/organization? (Keep in mind that an author's/creator's expertise on a given subject may be derived from education, position in society, experience, or other factors.)
- Purpose
- For what purpose was this information created and who is the intended audience?
- Methods
- What methods were used to produce the information in this source and when was it produced?
- If the information discusses specific communities, does the author(s) of the study/article/report respectfully engage with first-person experiences and views of members of that community?
- Conversation/ Source Diversity
- Does this author/source seem to be “in conversation” with other works?
- In what way might other conversations impact the information in this source?
- Perspectives and Power
- What perspectives or which voices might be missing from this source? Why might these have been excluded?
- Reflection
- Am I researching a topic that crosses "identity lines" or researching a community with whom I do not identify? If so, do the sources represent diverse, divergent view points?
- What role did my identity play in evaluating and selecting these sources?
(1) Gjerde, Ryan. "Immigration - CIL Guide." Luther College Library. 24 Apr. 2016, http://guides.luther.edu/c.php?g=439959&p=3273916. Accessed 11 Aug. 2017.
(2) Source: Wilkinson, Lane. "Information Literacy and Personal Identity." Sense and Reference, 22 June 2017, https://senseandreference.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/information-literacy-and-personal-identity/. Accessed 11 Aug. 2017.