Evaluating Sources - SW 7485 - Military Social Work - Library Guides at University of Missouri Libraries

Evaluating Information

Why evaluate?

Not all authors have strong academic credentials
Not all information is vetted or reviewed before publication, especially on the Internet
The amount of Information - in books, articles, web, radio, tv, etc. - can get overwhelming unless you critically evaluate and filter sources
Your professors want you to use scholarly information, but not all information is scholarly

Web Evaluation

Ten Steps to Better Web Research
Who Knows What...And How Do I Know It?
An interesting presentation on how information is produced and gains credibility.

Criteria for Evaluating Sources

C urrency : The timeliness of the information.

• Check the date of publication.
• Look for updated or revised information.

R elevance: Determine if the information relates to your topic.

• Check the title.
• Read the summary/abstract.

A uthority: The source of the information.

• Check the author/publisher/sponsor.
• Do a brief search on the author to determine if they are qualified to write on the topic.
• Check the domain to determine the origin of the site (ex: .gov, .edu, .com, etc.)

A ccuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of information.

• Is the information supported by evidence? Check for citations and bibliography.
• Determine if the publication is peer-reviewed.
• Look for spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors.

P urpose: The reason the information exists.

• Why was the information written: to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade?
• Determine if the information is fact, opinion, or propaganda.
• Check for political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases.
• Determine the intended audience.