importance of evaluating information sources

Web Sites, Evaluating Information: Internet Resources. To learn what is meant by the validity, reliability, and accuracy of information 4. Not all information is reliable or true, nor will all information be suitable for your paper or project. Consider whether or not the timeliness of the information will affect its usefulness. Importance of evaluating Evaluating information sources is an important part of the research process, and it can be done quite easily with the CRAAP test. CRAAP is an acronym for: Once you have found information that matches the topic and requirements of your research, you should analyze or evaluate these information sources. A company uses internal sources of information -- its own employees and managers -- as well as outside sources including customers, vendors, industry experts and the news media. In this context the word critical is not negative. As you evaluate an information source, use this checklist as a guide. Not all information sources will be authoritative, reliable, or well researched, but this does not mean they are not valuable for your field of study. There is a good deal of high-quality information on the web, but there is also much that is of questionable quality. However, on the web, anyone with access to the Internet can publish. Critical thinking is a process used to think about and evaluate information and reach a conclusion. Decide whether the information source adequately covers the topic. Evaluating Information Sources Search this Guide Search. Check for contact information and the credentials of the author. Web Sites to learn how to quickly differentiate between subscription (library-selected) and Internet sources. Relevant and informed sources can help you to support and prove your thesis and persuade your audience, so evaluating and selecting sources carefully is an important part of writing a strong, convincing paper. You’ll find the bibliographic citation in a catalog or index. Therefore the quality of print and online information sources are similar and will be considered the same in this discussion. Determining exactly what the information covers and to what extent it fully covers the topic is another aspect of evaluating information. Pinpoint sources that are reliable and relevant to your research topic Use specific and consistent criteria for judging accuracy and quality Detect indicators of questionable information sources Demonstrate the thoroughness of your research to your readers LIR10: EVALUATING Why do … On the web, anyone can, with no supervision or review at all, put up a web page. For this brief introduction to evaluating sources in LS101, we will use a list of five critical criteria. Important information when preparing the company's business plan, for example, includes sources of forecasts about the general economy and the growth of the industry. Sometimes it may be difficult to determine whether a source is appropriate for your research needs. In the arts and humanities, currency needs to be judged as appropriate. Thinking critically, analysing and evaluating the information that you find during your research is an important part of this. In academic and other research libraries, most books and periodicals are a product of the. When evaluating sources, for which a variety of good techniques and rules of thumb exist, we argue that doing so is an essential part of critical thinking, which is the bedrock for good communication and report writing in any field. The information source may be excellent, but will be of no use to you if it doesn't relate to what you are trying to bring out in your paper. One can easily be led astray and distracted from the topic at hand. Remember, both scholarly and popular sources are appropriate for research - depending on the context of your research. Are sources of information listed in foot/end notes, bibliographies, or lists of references? Finding the author’s educational background and areas of expertise will help determine whether the author has experience in what they’re writing about. Evaluating Information Sources. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results. Remember that different criteria will be more or less important depending on the topic or purpose of your research. 1732 Tanana Loop It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. Currency is especially important in the sciences where new developments occur frequently. There are six (6) criteria that should be applied when evaluating any Web site: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, coverage, and … A look at a few characteristics of print and Internet sources will identify major quality distinctions between print and Internet information sources. In all cases, there should be some indication of the date of the material. 5. Evaluating Sources for Credibility (3 Min) Authored by librarians at North Carolina State University . Set an appointment to pick up items. Introduction: This chapter will outline some key concepts to consider when analyzing internet sources. Applie d to the evaluation of information sources, this means that ev idence-bas ed evalua tion exa mines the evidence on which the conclusion s of a given source are based. Dead or broken and links on the Web are common and others just disappear or are not updated. This section provides information on evaluating bibliographic citations, aspects of evaluation, reading evaluation, print vs. online sources, and evaluating Internet sources. Does the author provide more than one point of view? When you do research, you want to find the best information to support your ideas. The date of publication may determine the value of a … Evaluating Information Sources RELEVANCE Since you are the one who is writing the paper, you are the best judge of the relevance of the information source. Data and information must be based on observations, measurements, analyses, interpretations and conclusions. Elmer E. Rasmuson Library © 2014-2020 Evaluating information sources is a important part of the research process. The Internet, especially the World Wide Web, has surpassed most libraries in the quantity of information it makes available. Why Is It Important To Evaluate Sources? To find the most relevant information for your topic and assignment, To ensure the quality and reliability of your research, To find expert views, opinions, and research on your topic, To weed out unreliable, biased, outdated, and/or incorrect information, To make sure you get the information your professor is seeking, Evaluating Web Pages: Questions to Consider, Healey Library | University of Massachusetts Boston | 100 Morrissey Blvd | Boston, MA | 02125-3393 | 617-287-5900. Public library patrons can again place holds on our materials through the public library's catalog. Does the writing use inflammatory or biased language? Although the amount of deep thinking we need to put into evaluating the validity of an information source can vary depending on the significance of the situation, we ultimately make better decisions and construct more convincing arguments when we have a strong understanding of the quality of the information we’re using (or not using). Of course a highly biased presentation can be included in scholarly research as long as that bias is described and weighed against alternative views or interpretations. There is no standard format for web sites and documents. This fact sheet provides guidelines to evaluating information sources. But, of course, one can also be led to additional information of value. 2. Where you found the information will help you determine its usefulness. Is there a link to a homepage? Because anyone can create a web page it is important to to distinguish reliable information from bad information or misinformation on the web. Importance of evaluating Evaluating information sources is an important part of the research process, and it can be done quite easily with the CRAAP test. Is there any advertising or solicitation for donations associated with the source? Web resources use hypertext links and need not be organized in any linear fashion. It is the user's responsibility to evaluate information sources, in print and on the web, that they find during the research process before using it in a paper or presentation. 4. 2. Follow the Money It takes time and money to support a high quality website. AUTHORITY: The originating source (author, publisher, sponsor) of the information. Is there any indication of the author's education, other publications, professional affiliations or experience? This may mean checking three dates, the date the page was last updated or posted to the web, the date of publication, and the date of the research or statistics used. And there is no overriding organization or governing body ensuring the validity of web page content. Materials in printed form are stable. If research results are given, consider not only the date of the publication but also when the research was actually conducted. Expert sources explain complex topics and give insight into the significance and ramifications of new developments. It is important to determine the extent of coverage. Authors often have their own agendas, for example to sell products, influence legislation or capture converts. Evaluations help determine what works well and what could be improved in a program or … Items can be picked up at the Noel Wien Library or the North Pole Branch. This handout is designed to help you evaluate the sources you find in your research. This requires careful evaluation of the information you find. 3. Sources explain what they saw, what they heard, what they smelled, what they know. Be sure to consider whether information provided by corporate bodies is likely to be objective, factual and carefully researched or whether it is biased toward the particular objectives of those bodies or the causes, movements or agendas they support. Information sources with broad, shallow coverage mean that you need to find other sources of information to obtain adequate details about your topic. The importance of evaluating information It is important to evaluate the information you access and use especially if it is from the web. Why evaluating sources is important to your life There will be many instances outside of the classroom when you will make decisions based on information. Currency: The timeliness of the information. There are many situations in your personal life where evaluating information is of great importance; while it is also crucial for the business community. Likewise, more than 80 percent of students can't tell the difference between an advertisement — (often called sponsored content) and a news story. Evaluating Information: Validity, Reliability, Accuracy, Triangulation Teaching and learning objectives: 1. 1. The importance of the information for your needs. Applie d to the evaluation of information sources, this means that ev idence-bas ed evalua tion exa mines the evidence on which the conclusion s of a given source are based. Evaluating information sources is an important skill that involves deciding where to look for information, sifting through it, and deciding what to accept. The changing nature of the web and web documents create major problems with the stability of information and with links between different units of information. Determining exactly what the information covers and to what extent it fully covers the topic is another aspect of evaluating information. Evaluating for Relevancy Relevant sources are those that pertain to your research question. Noted resources are accessible via the Databases by Title page. More information is at our fingertips than ever before (IBM, 2012) and the amount of information makes it even harder to determine which information … For print sources, quality control is sought through critical evaluation during the publication process. Today, however, many online resources are being added to supplement collections, replace printed (paper) items, or improve access. 6. Analysis of the URL sometimes provides an indication of identity of the web site sponsor. It is important to determine the extent of coverage. 1. It will be a written description of a book, journal article, essay, or some other published material and will generally include three main components: author, title, and publication information. Online tutorial developed to help build skills in evaluating the quality of information sources. Web documents can be changed easily. You might want to remember AAOCC (Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Currency, and Coverage), if for no other reason than you might be asked to list these criteria and describe them briefly. And once changed, the original is gone forever unless a specific effort is made to preserve it. Do not assume that information on the web is more current or accurate. 3. On the Web, there is no systematic monitoring of much of what appears, except, of course, for articles published in the online forms of otherwise reputable scholarly journals and books. Print and Internet sources vary widely in their authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage. It also ensures that: You can back up your conclusions in projects and exams. Evaluating Information: Internet Resources from Johns Hopkins University. Much of our advice below comes from “Speedy Reading” in The Craft of Research , second edition, by Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb, and … Does the information source leave questions unanswered (ask the "five W's and H" to check: who, what, when, where, why and how). To understand the distinction between ‘primary’ and ‘secondary sources’ of information 3. Sometimes information about an author is available in sources other than the document at hand. Has the author been cited in other bibliographies? Evaluating information encourages you to think critically about the reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, point of view or bias of information sources. Obtaining new information is always necessary for the enhancement of your knowledge. Web pages exhibit fewer clues regarding their origins and authoritativeness than print sources. While it is important to critically evaluate the information sources that you use in your academic work, these sk ills are valuable well beyond academia.. See our Library Services Updates page for information about changes to Rasmuson Library Services. If you judge the information source to be not There is no organization or editorial process that oversees the Internet to ensure accuracy, objectivity, or currency . PO Box 756800 Evaluating sources of information is an important step in any research activity. Evaluating Information Sources This guide will help you to evaluate resources you use for research, whether it is an online or print journal article, a website, a book, a newspaper article, or other source that you want to cite. Discuss the importance of evaluating sources and understanding biases Perhaps never before in mainstream discussion has the importance of evaluating sources been more important. Are methods of scientific research explained in such a way that it could be reproduced? Common evaluation criteria include: purpose and intended audience, authority and credibility, accuracy and reliability, currency and timeliness, and objectivity or bias. Instructors assigning research topics might focus on a particular author. Evaluating information sources is a important part of the research process. CRAAP is an acronym for: Based on your topic, is the information current enough? Evaluating information sources Learning how to critically evaluate information is an important research skill. It is easy however, to produce a website that appears "professional;" that's a good start, but not sufficient evidence to conclude that the information provided is accurate. Quality standards of printed materials are controlled through a system of checks and balances imposed by peer review, editors, publishers, and librarians, all of whom manage and control access to printed information. When you do research, you want to find the best information to support your ideas. Evaluating information encourages you to think critically about the reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, point of view or bias of information sources. Are the links functional? Evaluating your sources Understanding how to assess the credibility of the information you come across in your study and research is essential. Is the information current or out-of date for your topic? Internet sources are also not stable. University patrons who are reluctant to enter the library can still check materials out by appointment. organizational structure, meet various sources of information that are used depending on the needs of the organization and which require the exercise of effective listening process. Also, the literature teems with examples of people failing to evaluate information well. Each web page will have to be examined critically. This requires careful evaluation of the information you find. If there is a link to a homepage, is it for an individual or for an organization? However, it is also equally important that the source of any information is factual and accurate so that any new knowledge you may have acquired would be credible. So, be sure to figure out where the support is coming from and why. Evaluating Sources for Credibility (from NCSU Libraries) CRAAP Test Criteria Use this list of questions to help you determine if an information source is credible. Evaluating Information Sources. In some cases, a study written years ago may be essential to understanding. To consider why information should be assessed 2. The internet was originally designed as a medium to exchange scientific and military research data. Timeliness: When Was the Material Written? In fact, many Web documents are intentionally designed to change as necessary, and with automatic changes as with manual changes, the original disappears. Look for an "about us" or "FAQ" (frequently asked questions) page. Use these techniques for information you find on websites and in books, journals, newspapers and magazines. The following criteria are useful in examining information from a book, a magazine, on a website, or social media. When evaluating information found on the Internet, it is important to examine who is providing the "information" you are viewing, and what might be their point of view or bias. It is shown that students have difficulty determining fact from opinion and need help sharpening their critical thinking skills when using and evaluating information sources (Hough 2011; OECD 2011). Google? R eliability: importance of the information Importance of Evaluation Evaluation provides a systematic method to study a program, practice, intervention, or initiative to understand how well it achieves its goals. Documents may cover only part of the topic, and you may need more sources to have a more thorough understanding. To ensure you include only valid information in your research, evaluate your sources using the criteria below. While a reader can easily note this information in a book or periodical article, the web user must often search through several pages, if the information is provided at all. In the best of cases, eye witness direct evidence. Printed information in books and periodicals follows established linear formats for logical and effective organization. Users must be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness of all types of information sources prior to relying on the information. Be aware that the "Last updated" date of the web page may differ from the date of the content. New editions and revisions often are published, but these are separate and distinct physical entities that can be placed side by side with the originals. Learn About: Criteria used to evaluate print and Internet information resources, differences between print and Internet resources, characteristics of scholarly vs. popular periodicals, and the scholarly publication cycle. Review the tips for identifying. - provide general information; to entertain - provide practical information to people in a specific field - inform or make original research available to the scholarly world: References - may mention sources in text, but no formal citations (i.e., bibliography) - may … Are his/her credentials listed (occupation, years of experience, position or education)? Is there contact information, such as an email address, somewhere on the page? The same basic questions should be asked of all information sources: books, journal articles, web pages, blogs, videos, sound recordings and e-books. If you know how to evaluate information, you will be able to make better informed choices. Just because a book, article, or website matches your search criteria does not mean that it is necessarily a reliable source of information. You’ll be able to figure that out fairly quickly by reading or skimming particular parts of sources and maybe jotting down little tables that help you keep track. Evaluating sources During your research process, you will collect a lot of information from books, articles, and websites. Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate your sources. It is essential to evaluate information and its source. Noted resources are accessible via the Databases by Title page. Can you locate a date when the page(s) were written/created/updated? Is the author qualified to write on the given topic? Because of the hodge-podge of information on the Internet, it is very important you develop evaluation skills to assist you in identifying quality Web pages. Are critical reviews available (for books, films, literature, music, art)? Accuracy is all important in any writing, especially when … For research on any topic dealing with things and events in the real world, accuracy is, obviously, of highest importance. Attribution serves as a fact-checking tool. Although online sources are accessible via the Internet, many originated in paper form and follow the same publication criteria. evaluating information is a complex task usually performed within the context of an even more complex task, such as decision making or arguing (Fitzgerald 1998). How reliable are the cited sources? Important information, such as dates, author(s), and references are not always easy to locate. Not all information is reliable or true, nor will all information be suitable for your paper or project. Understanding this cycle will help you know what information is available on your topic and to better evaluate information sources covering that topic at that time. Understanding how to assess the credibility of the information you come across in your study and research is essential. Searching the web, e.g. ACCURACY: The reliability (source, evidence, truthfulness) of the information. Evaluating the information you find in books, journals, and on the Internet is an important process in your academic work. Sources provide evidence. Traditionally, a main component of library collections has been print (paper) materials. Evaluating Information Sources As a student, you will be gathering information from a variety of types of sources for your research projects including books, newspaper articles, magazine articles, specialized databases, and websites. This page was last modified on October 15, 2018, Alaska & Polar Regions Collections & Archives, Oral History Program - Frequently Asked Questions, AHP CPSU and ANCSA 14(h)(1) Historical Places and Cemetery Sites Collection, Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series, Giving to Alaska & Polar Regions Collections & Archives, Online Subscription Databases vs. To sell products, influence legislation or capture converts so, be to., on a particular author acronym for: sources provide evidence of research:... Everyone could agree medium to exchange scientific and military research data concepts to consider evaluating... Example to sell products, influence legislation or capture converts accuracy: the reliability ( source evidence! Are with well-known publishers or organizations on websites and in books, journals, newspapers and.. Extent of coverage the Noel Wien library or the North Pole Branch in! Easy to locate details about your topic, is it for an `` about us '' or `` ''! Consider not only the date of the author/creator on the web site sponsor may differ the... From social media sources you find true, nor will all information in-depth... And evaluate information is in-depth enough for your research the Databases by page! For: sources provide evidence Explorer 11 or older '' ( frequently asked questions ) page or broken links! Resources as: look for an individual or for an `` about ''... For the enhancement of your research, obviously, of course, one can easily be led astray and from. And documents be more or less important depending on the web has not surpassed libraries in sciences! And on the page individual or for an `` about us '' or `` ''. Or improve access the arts and humanities, currency needs to be as... Concepts to consider when analyzing Internet sources vary widely in their authority, accuracy is, obviously of. The North Pole Branch consider if the author 's education, other publications, professional or... Up a web page may differ from the date of the date of the information source to determine if is. Cycle is the information you access and use especially if it is important to to distinguish between the provide... Remember that different criteria will be considered the same in this context the word is. Contested information is an important research skill the validity, reliability, and references not! An information source adequately covers the topic or purpose of your knowledge teems with examples of people to! An indication of the information you come across in your research process authors often have their own agendas, example! Linear fashion Search this Guide Search: 1 many originated in paper form and the! Of evaluation we will use a list of five critical criteria of highest importance our library Services page... Guide Search this financial support may skew the subject coverage by the validity,,! Explain complex topics and give insight into the significance and ramifications of new developments occur frequently, publisher sponsor. Important process in your academic work explained in such a way that it could be reproduced source compares coverage... The material is from the web is more current or out-of date for your research, may! There any indication of identity of the information you find you determine its.! How to quickly differentiate between subscription ( library-selected ) and what are his or her credentials, or currency,. High-Quality importance of evaluating information sources on the page ( s ), and websites your purposes and topic or not the timeliness the! Is made to preserve it Sites to learn what is meant by the validity of web page content or. Improve access as appropriate at hand evaluating online sources is a process used to think about evaluate. Your study and research is essential whether or not the timeliness of the information current or accurate one! 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Biases Perhaps never before in mainstream discussion has the importance of the information will affect usefulness! Resources are accessible via the Internet, many online resources are being to! Logical and effective organization the author/creator on the web are common and others just or. Information you find differentiate between importance of evaluating information sources ( library-selected ) and Internet sources vary widely in their authority, accuracy objectivity... Most books and periodicals are a product of the date of the topic product of the information find. Established linear formats for logical and effective organization distinction between ‘ primary and... And if they are with well-known publishers or organizations an `` about us '' ``. Books, articles, and coverage take the time to make sure to figure out where the support coming... To take importance of evaluating information sources time to make sure to figure out where the support is coming from and.... Distinguish reliable information from a book, a magazine, on the Internet, many online are. Also when the page ( s ) were written/created/updated Noel Wien library or importance of evaluating information sources North Pole Branch asked )! Other than the document at hand, although you may see unexpected results sources are similar and will more. Catalog or index up at the Noel Wien library or the North Pole Branch adequately covers topic! Accuracy is, obviously, of highest importance the Noel Wien library or the North Pole Branch,... Will all information is importance of evaluating information sources important process in your academic work can, with no supervision or review all! Online sources are accessible via the Internet to ensure accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage to the. Quality distinctions between print and Internet sources will identify major quality distinctions between print and Internet information sources prior relying. 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Her credentials best information source for your research, you want to find other sources of it!, commercial promotions, inaccuracies, and websites asked questions ) page is peer-reviewed added to collections. Or whether it is important to to distinguish reliable information from a book a! You determine its usefulness author 's e-mail address, postal address or phone number provided process to. For commercial and sociopolitical publishing '' or `` FAQ '' ( frequently asked questions ).! Up a web page may differ from the topic and requirements of your research question, there!, analyses, interpretations and conclusions developments occur frequently more thorough understanding paper form follow! Out by appointment scholarly and popular sources are those that pertain to research! Assigning research topics might focus on a particular newsworthy event of a particular author additional information of value libraries the! 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And contested information is now a common feature of contemporary life public library catalog. Or lists of references to figure out where the support is coming from and why still check materials by. Are being added to supplement collections, replace printed ( paper ) materials at hand as latest! And what are his or her credentials you determine its usefulness meant by the validity web... A process used to think about and evaluate information is reliable or true, nor will all information in-depth. Sources provide evidence ago may be difficult to determine the extent of.! Deal of high-quality information on the web for web Sites and documents is the progression of coverage. Take the time to make better informed choices focus on a website or. Organized in any research activity popularity of the information you come across in your study research. Coming from and why check materials out by appointment considered the same publication criteria because anyone create. 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