Answered By: Pollak Library Guides Last Updated: Nov 05, 2018 Views: 2783
Answered By: Pollak Library Guides
Last Updated: Nov 05, 2018 Views: 2783
Not all information is equally valuable. Any information should be carefully examined to determine its usefulness and quality.
1. Evaluating Web Sites
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the author an authority or expert on the subject?
- What is the author's agenda? Are they trying to sell an idea or product?
- Do they use evidence to support fact claims, ideas, or opinions?
- Is the information current?
2. Evaluating Articles and Books
Authority
- What are the author's credentials, educational background, experience, past writings?
- Is the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars.
Date of Publication
- Is currency important to your research?
- If so, when was the source published?
- Topics in the sciences and business often demand current information. Topics in the humanities may require older material.
Objectivity
- Is the information supported by facts and evidence, or is it someone's opinion?
Accuracy and Quality of Content
- Can the information be verified by other sources?
- How does the information compare with other sources?
- If it is a book, what do book reviewers have to say?
Additional Method for Evaluating Sources
- CRAAP Test, which looks at Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose
Links & Files
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