Source Evaluation
The process of critically assessing primary or secondary sources to evaluate their reliability, perspective, and usefulness for historical investigation. Source evaluation considers authorship, purpose, context, and corroboration with other evidence.
Real World
A 1933 Nazi propaganda poster depicting Hitler as Germany's saviour is useful evidence of how the regime constructed its image, but its value lies in what it reveals about propaganda methods — not as a factual account of Hitler's character.
Exam Focus
Evaluate utility for your specific enquiry — a biased source is not useless; it reveals the author's intentions and context.
How well did you know this?