Once you have determined that a source is relevant to your project, check that it was created by somebody who is qualified to write or speak on the subject and whose conclusions are based on solid evidence. This, too, will depend on your subject and the nature of your research. For example, a fifth grader would generally not be considered an authority, but if you are writing about a topic such as bullying in elementary schools, a fifth grader’s opinion might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Make sure you can identify the author and be ready to explain why that author is qualified to write on the subject. Good qualifications might include academic degrees, other research and writing on the subject, or related personal experience.

Determine whether your project calls for scholarly publications, periodicals such as magazines and newspapers, or both. As mentioned in the previous section, you don’t necessarily have to dismiss popular periodicals. Many journalists and columnists are extremely well qualified, and their work might be appropriate for your needs. But as a general rule, scholarly sources will have been thoroughly reviewed, giving the work credibility in a college research project. Use Figure 8.1 for a review of different sources and what each offers.