A is for Author

Credibility can come from credentials.

Sometimes it's not easy to find author credentials. But if credibility is essential, take the time to learn about the author.  Credentials can include:

• education
• expertise 
• reputation
• other works by the author

Or a combination of all of these things!

S is for Sources

Look at the sources the author used.

• In academic books, authors will often include a Bibliography, or list of sources they checked in their own research, at the end of the book or at the end of each chapter.
• In academic research articles, authors list their sources at the end of their article, and refer to those sources in the text of the article using in-text citations or footnotes.
• When looking at a website, check for hyperlinks that take you to the author's original sources, or a list of references at the end of the web page.
• Popular sources, like magazine and newspaper articles, often do not include a list of sources at the end. Instead, you may need to look for other clues like signal phrases in the text, such as "According to ____ research study..." or "A report from the ____ Institution shows..."

Bonus tip: The author's sources, if credible themselves, can lead you to more helpful information for your research!

How old is too old?

Many times, your professor will tell you that information should be current. How current is current enough? The answer often depends on the context of your research and your subject matter. Here are some "rules of thumb" based on subject matter:

• Medicine, health, technology, science: Sources should be a maximum of 5 years old. Since these fields are changing so quickly, the more recent your research, the better.
• History, literature, art, humanities: Since these subjects often review events and content from the past, sources can be 10-20 years old, depending on your research context. 

If you are unsure how old is too old for your research, check with your professor!

P is for Publisher

Look for the publisher's credentials.

Everything, even a personal website, is published by someone. Find out if the publisher of your information is knowledgeable in the subject. 

• Books: You can find the publisher on the title page of a book. They are often listed at the bottom of the title page, with the city of publication below the publisher. Look up the publisher's name in Google to see what other books they've published. Most University Presses (e.g. University of California Press or Oxford University Press) publish only academic books.
• Journals, Magazines, Newspapers: Look up the name of the journal, magazine, or newspaper in Google to find the publisher. Do they publish other things on the same subject? Can you find an "About Us" section that tells you more information on their publishing or editing process?
• Websites: Examine the site for information about the publisher, or sponsor, of the site. Look for an "About Us" link, a logo in the header or footer, or a link to the site's home page for more information.

When in doubt, you can always ask a librarian!