Chapter 5 Summary - The Bedford Researcher

Chapter 5 of Mike Palmquist’s book, The Bedford Researcher, describes how to evaluate sources. Palmquist says that “At the beginning of your research project, you’ll most likely make quick judgments about your sources.” (Page 82) He then goes into detail on how to evaluate the relevance of your source and how this method will help you to better judge future sources you find. He starts by saying that by questioning your purpose and audience; evaluating the evidence of a source by asking if there is enough and right kind of evidence; evaluating the author of your source based on knowledge and affiliation; evaluating the publisher of your source; evaluating the timeliness of your source; evaluating your source’s comprehensiveness; and finally evaluating your source’s genre. After describing this in detail, Palmquist adds that not all types of sources are evaluated the same way. There are web sites, blogs, newsgroups, email lists, discussion forms, social networking sites, and wikis; which all need to be evaluated based on relevance and credibility. You also need to evaluate the relevance and accuracy of field sources, things like interviews, observations, and surveys. Palmquist’s main point he is getting across with all of this is that finding the right sources by evaluation will get you the farthest in research writing.