Do I Trust This Information?
Evaluating Information Sources
A research assignment can only be as good as the information used to create it. The following set of criteria and list of questions should be used when evaluating various resources, including: books, magazine, journal and newspaper articles, and Internet web sites.
| RELEVANCE? |
- Does the information address some aspect
of your research question?
- Does the information provide evidence for your argument?
- Is the information well-suited to your needs as a college
student or is it too advanced or elementary?
|
| BIAS? OBJECTIVITY? |
- What is the author’s purpose? To inform?
To persuade? To entertain?
- Is more than one side of the issue or topic presented?
- To what extent does the site present opinions versus facts?
|
| CURRENT? |
- Is the information up-to-date? When was it published
or last revised?
- Do I need the most current information for this
topic or issue?
- Can I find information from the time period?
|
| AUTHORITY? RELIABLE? |
- Is the author or source qualified to provide information
on the topic?
- Who are the authors and what are their credentials?
Institutional affiliation, educational background, expertise?
- Is
the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
- Do the authors
give credit for information provided? Is there a Bibliography
or Works Cited list?
- Has anyone verified or reviewed the
information for accuracy?
|
Why evaluate web sites?
| BECAUSE: |
The QUALITY of information varies
TREMENDOUSLY |
| ANYONE can publish and post a Web site on the Internet |
| Most Web sites DON’T employ editors or fact
checkers |
| You need RELIABLE resources for your assignments
|
