Evaluating Sources

Group 1: Research Basics

Girmay, Berekti K -- Starting your Research

Cai, Hanquan  --  Finding Resources

Coughlin, Tim --  Evaluating Sources

Sapkota, Puspak  --  Using the information you find

Finding Resources

When doing research for a project where you obtain your information is just as important as the information itself.  These points will help you determine if the information is valid and useful to your project.

·         Is the information presented relevant to your topic?

·         Is the information presented valid?

o   Does the source list its sources?

o   Are you able to verify the information?

·         Who authored the information?

o   Are they considered a professional or an expert in their field?

o   Is the author connected to other credible sources?

o   Is the author familiar with the subject?

·         How current is the information presented

o   What was the date of the publication

o   When was the website or article updated or created

·         What is the purpose of the Article, book, website?

o   To persuade

o   To inform

o   To prove

o   Entertain

·         Is the information presented biased?

o   Author

o   Publisher

o   Religious or Political organization

o   Business or charity?

·         Is the information organized?

o   Is the content organized into a table of contents?

o   Allows for quicker access to relevant information.

·         Coverage of the topic

o   Is the topic fully covered, partially covered or just summarized?

o   Does the source contain images, illustrations, or diagrams? are they relevant to the information presented? 

Works Cited

"CSU Libraries: How to Evaluate a Web Page." Libraries | Colorado State University. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://lib.colostate.edu/howto/evalweb2.html>.

"CSU Libraries: How to Evaluate Books." Libraries | Colorado State University. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://lib.colostate.edu/howto/evalbk.html>.

"CSU Libraries: How to Evaluate Journal Articles." Libraries | Colorado State University. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://lib.colostate.edu/howto/evaljrl2.html>.

"LEO: Assessing the Credibility of Online Sources." Welcome to LEO: Literacy Education Online. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/research/credibility1.html>.