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How do you know if an information source is a good one? Whether
you're looking at a book, journal article, or online source,
learning to determine the relevance and authority of resources
is an important part of the research process. Here are some
questions to ask:
- Who is the Author?
What are the author's credentials - education, publications,
experience - in this area? Has your instructor mentioned
this author? Have you seen this author's name cited in other
sources or bibliographies? TIP: Watch out for "authorities"
reporting on information outside their area of expertise,
and be aware of experts with an obvious bias.
- When was the Material Published?
Is this source current or out-of-date for your topic? Some
areas demand current information, while sometimes earlier
viewpoints are needed.
- Which Edition is This?
Is this a first edition? Later editions indicate that a
source has been revised and updated to reflect changes in
knowledge. Many printings or editions may indicate that
this book has become a standard source in its field.
- Who is the Publisher?
Certain publishing houses are noted for issuing quality
work in a given field (for example, Island Press in Environmental
Sciences, or Chessler for Mountaineering). University Press
editions are most likely academic in scope.
- Journal vs. Magazine?
Generally, magazines (Time, Psychology Today)
do not require extensive prior knowledge of a topic, and
are written for a general audience. Scholarly journals (Journal
of Transpersonal Psychology, Mountaineering and
Its Literature) assume a higher level of reader sophistication,
and present arguments of evidence intended to validate new
knowledge in the field. TIP: Avoid accepting
an author's authority based on scholarly tone; question!
Content Analysis...
TIPS: Read the Preface of a book to learn the author's
intentions. Scan the Table of Contents and the Index for an
overview of the topics covered. Note whether Bibliographies
or References are included. While or after reading the material,
keep the following in mind:
- Intended Audience
Who is the author addressing? Is the publication aimed at
a specialized or general audience? Is this source too elementary,
too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs?
- Objective Reasoning
Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda? It's not
always easy to tell! Facts can usually be verified; opinions,
even if based on factual data, are interpretations of the
facts.
Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched,
or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Do assumptions
seem reasonable? Does it seem that questions are left unanswered
or omitted? TIP: Check the cited references
to see where the author got his information.
- Coverage
Does the work update other sources, substantiate other sources,
or contribute new information? Try to use a variety of sources
to include many viewpoints, and be aware of current research
which may apply to dated material.
- Primary sources are written during the period in
question, providing first-hand knowledge of the subject.
A primary source would be an original document, such
as the U.S. Constitution, or the personal diary or letters
of an historical figure.
- Secondary sources are based on primary sources, but
may be written after the period. They provide the author's
analysis and perspective on the topic.
- Tertiary sources include encyclopedia articles, derived
from secondary sources.
- Writing Style
Is the work organized logically? Are the main points presented
clearly? Is the text easy to read? Is the author too repetitive,
or pedantic?
Web Pages can sure look impressive - professional, dazzling,
full of information, or extremely entertaining. When you need
to find solid, accurate information, however, the look of
the page is not as important as the content... and it's important
to learn how to evaluate that content.
The Basics:
- AUTHORITY
Who/what organization is responsible for the site? Can you
find the author's qualifications? Can you verify the information
elsewhere?
- PURPOSE
Can you tell the purpose of the page? Is it to inform? To
explain? To persuade? To sell? To entertain? Is there potential
for bias? Are any ads on the page distinct from informational
content? Is the tone scholarly, or popular?
- DATES
There should be dates on a web page! Is there a publication
date? Last revision date? Date page was published on the
web? Date the information was gathered?
- ACCURACY
Are sources listed? Are there grammatical or spelling errors?
Can you verify the information elsewhere? Do the links work?
- COVERAGE
Is it a full-text document, summary, or abstract?
How in-depth is the material? Are there different authorities
for different content areas? What time period is covered?
- WEB DESIGN
Can you connect to the site easily? Is the information
presented in a clean, clear format? Are the navigation aids
helpful? Are additional software programs or hardware needed?
- And Some Other Tips:
The web address (URL) provides a clue to the type of information
you might find at a site. For example, sites ending with:
.com are commercial, business, for-profit
sites. Expect that these people want to sell you something!
.edu sites means the information is coming
from an educational institution
.gov denotes a government site
.org usually means the information is coming
from a non-profit or professional organization
Examples
Are these sites for real? Is the information true? It's not
always easy to tell...
Try verifying web sites using Snopes
Many thanks to all the librarians who have written about
evaluating web pages, and who I have borrowed freely from!
Another helpful site:
Library Home | Library
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This page is created and maintained by Linda
Butterworth. Send comments or suggestions to library@prescott.edu. |
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