The RADAR Framework can help you remember what kinds of questions you should be asking about an information source as you evaluate it for quality and usefulness in your research.
Relevance
How is the information you have found relevant to your assignment?
Does the information answer our research question?
Authority
Who is the author/ publisher/ source?
What are the author's credentials?
Is the author affiliated to an academic institution or reputable organization?
Date
When was the information published?
Has the information be revised or updated?
Is the publication date important to you?
Does your research requite timely sources?
Accuracy
Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence or peer reviews?
Is the information presented in a professional or academic manner? Free of spelling or grammatical errors?
Does it have citations and references?
Rationale
Why did the author publish the information?
What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
The religious traditions of humankind are shown here as circles, each containing a commonly used symbol of that tradition. Each links to resources for exploring that particular tradition.
Adherents.com is a growing collection of over 43,870 adherent statistics and religious geography citations: references to published membership/adherent statistics and congregation statistics for over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc. The religions of the world are enumerated here.
These websites have been selected by the New York Public Library as "Best of the Web" for information about various religion. Sites are both alphabetically and topically arranged.
This list has been compiled by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research and as the site notes,"several of the organizations and religious groups listed on this page either do not envision themselves as denominations or are loose associations of congregations; therefore, the web site listed might not be an official denominational site nor represent an "official" perspective of a national religious entity."
Founded in 2008, Patheos.com is the premier online destination to engage in the global dialogue about religion and spirituality and to explore and experience the world's beliefs. Patheos is the website of choice for the millions of people looking for credible and balanced information about religion. Patheos brings together faith communities, academics, and the broader public into a single environment, and is the place where many people turn on a regular basis for insight, inspiration, and stimulating discussion. (From the website)
The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, launched in 2001, seeks to promote a deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs. The Pew Forum conducts surveys, demographic analyses and other social science research on important aspects of religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world. It also provides a neutral venue for discussions of timely issues through roundtables and briefings. (From the Website)
The Pluralism Project: World Religions in America is a two decade-long research project with current funding from the Lilly Endowment and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation to engage students in studying the new religious diversity in the United States. We will explore particularly the communities and religious traditions of Asia and the Middle East that have become woven into the religious fabric of the United States in the past twenty-five years. (From Website)
Streaming videos on various religious studies topics. To view Library of Congress Webcasts you need the RealPlayer, a free application for playing video and audio files. You can download the RealPlayer from the RealNetworks site.