Evaluating Sources
The basic considerations for evaluating any type of information
are much the same no matter what the format of the information. You
are always going to be concerned about who wrote the information and
its accuracy. Below is a detailed checklist of evaluation
criteria for all types of information.
Initial Appraisal
Author - What are the author's credentials?
Where does he/she work, educational background, past writings or
experience? Is the author cited in other information sources?
Date of Publication - When was the information created,
published or revised? Is the source current for your topic?
Edition or Revision - "Is this the first edition of this
publication? Further editions indicate a source has been
revised and updated to reflect changes in knowledge, include
omissions, and harmonize with its intended reader's needs.
Also, many printings or editions may indicated that the work has
become a standard source in the area and is reliable. If you
are using a Web source, do the pages indicate revision dates?"*
Publisher - If the sources is published by a university or
a government agency, it is likely to be reputable, although that is
not guaranteed.
Title of Journal - "Is this a scholarly or a popular
journal? This distinction is important because it indicates
different levels of complexity in conveying ideas."* Journals
generally: are published monthly or quarterly; contain scholarly
research and primary resource material; don't have many ads.
Magazines generally: are published weekly or monthly; contain
popular literature; have lots of ads.
World Wide Web Site Uniform Resource Locator (URL) - The
URL can provide clues as to the authority of a web site.
It may give the institution (company, government, university, etc.)
or Internet provider that supports the information. The domain
names listed below give you some idea of what type of institution is
involved.
Countries also have domain names, for example: uk stands for the
United Kingdom
Intended Audience - "What type of audience is the author
addressing? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a
general audience? Is this source too elementary, too
technical, too advanced or just right for your needs?"*
Objective Reasoning -
- "Is the information covered fact, opinion, or
propaganda? It is not always easy to separate fact from
opinion. Facts can usually be verified; opinions, though
they may be based on factual information, evolve from
the interpretation of facts. Skilled writers can make
you think their interpretations are facts.
- Does the information appear to be valid and
well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported
by evidence? Assumptions should be reasonable. Note
errors or omissions.
- Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in
line with other works you have read on the same topic?
The more radically an author departs from the views of
others in the same field, the more carefully and
critically you should scrutinize his or her ideas.
- Is the author's point of view objective and
impartial? Is the language free of emotion-arousing
words and bias?"*
Coverage -
- "Does the work update other sources, substantiate other
materials you have read, or add new information? Does it
extensively or marginally cover your topic? You should explore
enough sources to obtain a variety of viewpoints.
- Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Primary
sources are the raw material of the research process. Secondary
sources are based on primary sources. For example, if you were
researching Konrad Adenauer's role in rebuilding West Germany
after World War II, Adenauer's own writings would be one of many
primary sources available on this topic. Others might include
relevant government documents and contemporary German newspaper
articles. Scholars use this primary material to help generate
historical interpretations--a secondary source. Books, encyclopedia articles, and scholarly journal articles about
Adenauer's role are considered secondary sources. In the
sciences, journal articles and conference proceedings written by
experimenters reporting the results of their research are
primary documents. Choose both primary and secondary sources
when you have the opportunity."*
Writing Style -
"Is the publication organized logically? Are the main points
clearly presented? Do you find the text easy to read, or is it
stilted or choppy? Is the author's argument repetitive?"*
Evaluative Reviews -
You can find sources that review: general books; literature;
film/theater/television; magazines and journals; and web sites at
Reviews http://library.truman.edu/databases/reviews.htm
- "Is the review positive? Is the source under review
considered a valuable contribution to the field? Does the
reviewer mention other sources that might be better? If so,
locate these sources for more information on your topic.
- Do the various reviewers agree on the value or attributes of
the source or has it aroused controversy among the critics?"*
Try the
Evaluating Sources Jigsaw Puzzle (http://ids.truman.edu/quality.swf)
*Many thanks to the Reference Department;
Instruction, Research, and Information Services (IRIS); Cornell
University Library
Ithaca, NY, USA permission to reproduce and adapt their
excellent guide: Critically Analyzing Information Sources 6
Oct. 2004. Cornell University. 20 July 2005. <http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill26.htm>.
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