•                    How timely is the source? Is the source 20 years out of date? Some information becomes dated when new research is available, but other older sources of information can be quite sound 50 or 100 years later.

•                    Do some cross-checking. Can you find some of the same information given elsewhere?

•                    How credible is the author? If the document is anonymous, what do you know about the organization?

•                    Has it been peer reviewed i.e. checked by other experts in the field ?

•                    Are there vague or sweeping generalizations that aren't backed up with evidence?

•                    Are arguments very one-sided with no acknowledgement of other viewpoints?