Annotated Bibliography

"Critical appraisal is the process of systematically examining research to judge its trustworthiness, value and relevance in a particular context." (Burls, 2009, p. 1)

Look at the source:

A. Author

• What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation (where he or she works), educational background, past writings, or experience? Is the book or article written on a topic in the author's area of expertise? 

B. Date of Publication

• When was the source published? This date is often located on the face of the title page below the name of the publisher. If it is not there, look for the copyright date on the reverse of the title page. On Web pages, the date of the last revision is usually at the bottom of the home page, sometimes every page.

C. Edition

• Is this a first edition of this publication or not? Further editions indicate a source has been revised and updated to reflect changes in knowledge and demonstrates the reliability of the source. 

D. Publisher

• Who is the publisher? If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be academic. Although the fact that the publisher is reputable does not necessarily guarantee quality.

Now look at the content:

Books - Read the preface to determine the author's intentions. Scan the table of contents and the index to get a broad overview of the material it covers. Are references/bibliographies included? Read the chapters that specifically address your topic.

Journal Articles - Read the abstract. Then the article. The presence and quality of a bibliography at the end of the article may reflect the care with which the authors have prepared their work.

A. Intended Audience

• Who is the intended audience? Is the publication aimed at a specialised or general public? Is this source too basic, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs?

B. Objective Reasoning

• Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? It is not always easy to separate fact from opinion. Facts can usually be verified; opinions, though they may be based on factual information, evolve from the interpretation of facts. Skilled writers can make you think their interpretations are facts. Is it biased?
• Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Assumptions should be reasonable. Note errors or omissions.

C. Coverage

• Does the work update other sources, substantiate other materials you have read, or add new information? Does it extensively or marginally cover your topic? You should explore enough sources to obtain a variety of viewpoints.
• Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Primary sources are the raw material of the research process e.g. survey, statistics, research data, official and unofficial records of organisations and government agencies. Secondary sources are based on primary sources e.g. textbooks, reviews, some journal articles. 

D. Writing Style

• Is the publication organised logically? Are the main points clearly presented? Do you find the text easy to read, or is it stilted or choppy? Is the author's argument repetitive?

Information adapted from Cornell University Library - http://guides.library.cornell.edu/critically_analyzing/critically_analyzing (cc - https://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/services/research/guides/use)