Evaluating Information
from the "Introduction to Library Research Guide...
- Credibility
- Who is the author of the material? What are the author's credentials?
- Is the author considered an expert in the field in which he or she writes?
- What is the author's reputation among his or her peers? What else has the author written?
- Who is the publisher of the material? Is that publisher well-known?
- Bias
- Is the information presented in an objective manner? Are all sides of the issue presented? If not, can you determine the side of the issue the author takes?
- Does the author acknowledge a bias? Is there any inflammatory language in the material?
- Does the author verify statements with facts and cite his or her sources?
- Does the publisher stand to benefit from any research published (i.e. a drug company funding a study on its own products)?
- Accuracy
- Does the author cite his or her sources?
- Does the material provide a description of its research methods?
- Does the information contradict other published information?
- Currency
- When was the material published? Does this work have a more current edition or update?
- Does your topic require more up-to-date information (i.e. is it a scientific or medical topic or about a current event?
- Relevance
- Does the information add to the topic you are writing about, or is it peripheral to your discussion?
- Is the information significant and valuable, or trival and common knowledge?
- Does the material provide references which will also be useful?
Information Timeline
