Why Evaluate Sources?

Why evaluate sources? : 

Why evaluate sources? Just because it’s written doesn’t mean it’s good…

Evaluation Criteria : 

Evaluation Criteria In today's information age, anyone who has the necessary skills can find a wealth of information on almost any topic. The challenge is to sift through a huge amount of information and identify sources that are reliable and appropriate. Whether you find information in books and periodicals, on the Internet, or on television, you cannot assume it is reliable. The user is responsible for evaluating information and judging its quality. Following is a checklist of points to consider when evaluating any information source.

Authority: What are the author's credentials? Does the author have expertise on the subject? : 

Authority: What are the author's credentials? Does the author have expertise on the subject? How can I find out? Look at the source to see if it tells you anything about the author's credentials. Check a biographical source. Read a critical review of your source. A review will often give information about the author. (Check amazon.com if you have to…) Many Internet sources do not give the identity or credentials of the author or producer. Sources that do not give this information have questionable reliability. If you have a source with NO NAME or CORRESPONDING ORGANIZATION, do not use that source!

Timeliness When was the information published? Is the date of publication important to the subject matter? : 

Timeliness When was the information published? Is the date of publication important to the subject matter? How can I find out? Look at the date of publication. Determine whether it is important to use current sources for the subject. In fields such as medicine, science, business, technology, and most social sciences, currency of information is important. (no older than 3 years!) In fields such as history and literature, older materials may be just as valuable as newer ones.

DocumentationDoes the author refer to other works? Does the source have a works cited/bibliography? : 

DocumentationDoes the author refer to other works? Does the source have a works cited/bibliography? How can I find out? Does the author support his or her statements with data or references to research? Look at the end of the source for a bibliography or list of references.

PurposeWhat is the purpose of the source? Is it to inform, persuade, present opinions, report research, or sell a product?For what audience is it intended? Does it show any bias? Is it popular or scholarly? : 

PurposeWhat is the purpose of the source? Is it to inform, persuade, present opinions, report research, or sell a product?For what audience is it intended? Does it show any bias? Is it popular or scholarly? How can I find out? Read the source you are evaluating. Determine whether the source is published by an organization with a particular purpose. Determine whether the source attempts to sell a product or promote a particular point of view. Also, see if it presents a balanced view. Determine whether the material is scholarly or popular using this list of criteria.

Web site evaluation : 

Web site evaluation Avoiding misinformation and disinformation while researching online.

All web sites are not created equal. : 

All web sites are not created equal. Scan your sites before you decide to use them. Web sites that do not have a name, either author or organization, listed/attached are highly suspect and should be avoided, unless you’re using them to demonstrate unreliability or fanaticism, fallacy etc…

Content & Evaluation : 

Content & Evaluation Audience… Who is the audience? What does the author assume the user already knows about the topic of the site? Based on your answer to the last question, should this site be of greatest interest to the general user, the enthusiast, or the professional?

Content Evaluation : 

Content Evaluation What is the purpose of the Web Page & what does it contain? Is this site meant to be informational or promotional? Is the site supposed to be educational or entertaining? How complete and accurate are the information and the links provided?

Content Evaluation : 

Content Evaluation Who is the author or producer? What is the authority or expertise of the individual or group that created this site? How knowledgeable is the individual or group on the subject matter of the site? Is the site sponsored or co-sponsored by an individual or group that has created other Web sites? Is any sort of bias evident?

Content Evaluation : 

Content Evaluation What is the relative value of the Web site in comparison to the range of information resources available on this topic? What other resources (print & non-print) are available in this area? What are the date(s) of coverage of the site and site-specific documents? How comprehensive is this site?

Content Evaluation : 

Content Evaluation What are the link selection criteria if any? Are the links relevant and appropriate for the site? Is the site inward-focused, pointing outward, or both? Can you find any cases where the author has plagiarized other sources? In other words, has the author used other authors' words or ideas without properly citing them, so as to pass them off as original ideas?

Content Evaluation : 

Content Evaluation Is the tone (whether serious, humorous, critical, etc.) and writing style of the source appropriate for an academic discussion of the topic? When was the Web item produced? When was the Web item last revised? How up to date are the links? How reliable are the links; are there blind links, or references to sites which have moved?

Choose sources wisely! : 

Choose sources wisely! End of presentation