Once you have determined that a source is relevant to your project, check that it was created by somebody who has the qualifications to write or speak on the subject. Such checking will depend on your subject and the nature of your inquiry (a fifth grader’s opinion might be exactly what you’re looking for). In most cases, though, you’ll want expert conclusions based on rigorous evidence.

Make sure that you can identify the author and be ready to explain why that author is a reliable source. Good qualifications might include academic degrees, institutional affiliations, an established record of researching and publishing on a topic, and personal experience with a subject. On the other hand, be wary of anonymous or commercial sources or those written by someone whose credibility is questionable.

Also understand whether your project calls for scholarly publications, popular magazines, or both. As mentioned in the previous section, you don’t necessarily have to dismiss popular magazines. Many journalists and columnists are extremely well qualified, and their work might well be appropriate for your needs. Also, independent and small-press magazines offer perspectives from groups of people who are not often represented in mainstream media outlets. As a general rule, however, scholarly sources will have been vetted through a rigorous process that gives the work credibility in academic environments.