Purpose
When selecting a source for your research it is important to consider the purpose of the publication and its relevance to your work.
Purpose
- Is this an academic or popular source?
- Why was it written?
- Do you sense a bias?
- Do you feel that the information is being presented in a certain way?
Why question Purpose?
The purpose of a source will tell you why the author chose to write it and why they are presenting their argument from a particular angle. Understanding the purpose of your source will allow you to engage critically with the information provided.
Relevance
- Does this information relate to my topic?
- Is the information wrtitten at the right level?
- Who is the intended audience?
Why question Relevance?
Relevance may be one of the first criteria you consider when deciding whether to use a source in your research. Before committing to a source you should first determine if it is of use to you in your research. Since most of your research will focus on engaging with scholarly sources it is also important to consider whether the source was written for an academic community at a discipline specific level.