To determine what makes a source effective, consider the following two key criteria:
-
Credibility: An effective source should be credible, meaning it is reliable and trustworthy. This can be established through the author's qualifications, the presence of citations, and the reputation of the organization or publisher behind the source.
-
Relevance: The source must be relevant to your topic or research question. It should provide information that directly supports or informs your work in a meaningful way.
These two criteria help ensure that the information obtained from the source is both accurate and applicable.