Source Evaluation: Components and Impacts

The present article is a theoretical review on source evaluation. We define source evaluation, also called sourcing, as attending to, evaluating, and using available or accessible information about the sources of textual content. The main objectives of this article are (1) to propose a new model of the socio-cognitive impact of sourcing; (2) to examine what influences sourcing; (3) to investigate the link between sourcing and source memory; and (4) the relation between sourcing and critical thinking. We will also discuss implications for future research in this area.