TCOM 101 Critical Media Literacy -- Moore: Research Article Evaluation

Aside from the requirements of your assignment, you should use critical thinking to determine whether an article is relevant, timely, and credible. Consider the possibility of bias in any information presented. The "W" questions can be an effective framework for evaluation: 

Who? Is there a named author? Is the author an expert in the subject matter? Are they affiliated with a reputable organization? 

What? Does the topic of the article relate to your research topic? An article can be valuable even if it only discusses part of your topic. Remember as a researcher you should not ignore articles that you disagree with. 

When? Does the date the article was written make sense compared to how fast your subject area changes? 

Why? Is the article written to inform, entertain, or persuade? Look for evidence of bias in every article you read. 

How? Do the authors cite their sources? Do they present appropriate evidence to back their claims? Do they leave anything out?