Evaluating Sources

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Authors & Contributors

Experienced researchers know that the publisher of a source – the person, organization, government agency, or corporation that prints or electronically distributes a source – plays an important role in shaping its content. Like authors, publishers usually have a bias about a particular topic or issue. A corporate publisher, such as Microsoft, which publishes information on one of the largest sites on the World Wide Web, is likely to present its products and services more favorably than those of its competitors. Similarly, political organizations, such as the Democratic Party or the National Rifle Association, are likely to publish sources that contain information that support policies favored by the organization.

As you evaluate a source, consider its publisher. If you are reading a Web site, is it a site created for particular commercial purposes, such as selling a product or service? Is it a site devoted to a particular political cause or causes? Is it a site developed by a particular organization or government agency? If you are reading a newsgroup or mailing list, is it a general interest group or one devoted to a particular cause? If you are reading a book, what does the name of the publisher tell you about the intended audience? Is this publisher known for publishing works in a specific field? with a specific political agenda? If you are reading a periodical, does it have a predictable point of view? The Nation, a magazine of commentary from a left-leaning political point of view, is likely to give you a different picture of the world from that found in the National Review, edited by conservative William F. Buckley, Jr.

To read more about evaluating a publisher, click on the items below:

• Strategies for Evaluating the General Outlook of a Web Site
• Strategies for Evaluating the General Outlook of Periodical