EVALUATING INFORMATION
Information Literacy: A Learning Module
Kay Venteicher
University of Maryland University College
DETT 611
April 25, 2015
INFORMATION LITERACY
Information literacy is the ability and skill of an
individual to locate and find information
required to satisfy research needs. Both the
information and the source are then critically
evaluated to determine which information is
most suitable for effective use in the research
process.
It is this skill that provides the basis for an
individual to become a lifelong learner.(Association of College and Research Libraries, 2000, p. 2)
CRITERIA TO EVALUATE SOURCES
The information age provides the researcher with vast quantities of information which are continuously growing. After the researcher finds the information required, both the information and the source then must be critically evaluated to ensure it meets the needs for use in academic research.
The sources must have:
Currency
Relevance
Authority
Accuracy
Purpose(California State University, 2010)
CRITERIA TO EVALUATE SOURCES, cont’d
The need to evaluate information applies to all resources. The Internet can provide the researcher with access to a variety of digital media which includes websites, articles, books, journals, and much more.
The fastest and easiest way to complete research would be for the researcher to take the first information sources found. The fact is those first information sources may not meet the needs for the research. The researcher must continue the research.
The researcher will need to learn the skills to evaluate the source and ensure it is meets the research needs. The information should be credible, authoritative, and relevant to the research need.(ODU Libraries, 2013)
CURRENCY
Currency is the timeliness of the information.
How does a researcher determine this?
Here are four questions to ask regarding the
information.
When was the information published or posted?
Has the information been revised or updated?
Does the research topic require current information,
or is the information out of date for the research?
Will older sources work meet the need as well?
Are the web site links accessible and functional?(California State University, 2010)
CURRENCY ACTIVITY
(UMUC Library, 2015)
Using the information provided on
the research topic of Distance
Education:
Determine when the information
was published or posted?
Has the information been
revised or updated?
Is the information current or out
of date for the research topic?
RELEVANCE
Relevance is the level of importance of the information for the research needs.
How does a researcher determine this? Here are five questions to ask regarding the
information. Does the information relate to the topic? Does it answer
the question?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e., not too elementary or advanced for the research needs)?
Have a variety of sources been looked at before selecting which to use?
Is the researcher comfortable citing this source in a research paper?
(California State University, 2010)
RELEVANCE ACTIVITY
Using the information provided on the
research topic of Distance Education, you
want to research learning design and
cognitive engagement. Are any of the
three articles relevant to the research
topic?
Determine which information relates to
the topic? Does it answer the question?
Does the information fit the intended
audience?
Is the information at an appropriate
level (i.e., not too elementary or
advanced for the research needs)?
Have a variety of sources been looked
at before selecting which to use?
Is the researcher comfortable citing this
source in a research paper?
AUTHORITY
Authority is the source of the information.
How does a researcher determine this?
Here are five questions to ask regarding the information.
Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations revealed?
What are the author’s qualification to write on the topic?
Is contact information provided (i.e., publisher, email address)?
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source (i.e., web site from .com, .edu, .gov, .org, or .net)?
(California State University, 2010)
AUTHORITY ACTIVITY
The first article was determined to be relevant to the research. Using the article provided, determine the article’s authority based on this criteria.
Determine the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations revealed?
What are the author’s qualification to write on the topic?
Is contact information provided? (i.e., publisher, email address)
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? (i.e., web site from .com, .edu, .gov, .org, or .net)
ACCURACY
Accuracy is the reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content of the source.
How does a researcher determine this? Here are six questions to ask regarding the
information. Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Has the information been vetted through review or refereed?
Can information be verified through another source or from personal knowledge?
Does the language or tone of the information seem free of bias and emotion?
Does the information contain spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
(California State University, 2010)
ACCURACY ACTIVITY
Using the article abstract provided, evaluate and determine the reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the source content.
Determine the authors/ publisher/source/sponsor?
Are the credentials/ organizational affiliations of the authors revealed?
What are the qualification of the authors?
Is contact information provided (i.e., publisher, email address)?
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source (i.e., web site from .com, .edu, .gov, .org, or .net)?
PURPOSE
The purpose of the information is the reason it exists.
How does a researcher determine this?
Here are five questions to ask regarding the information.
What is the information’s purpose (i.e., to inform, teach, sell, entertain, persuade)?
Is there a clear intention or purpose made by the authors/sponsors?
What is the information based on (i.e., fact, opinion, propaganda)?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Is the information based on bias (i.e., political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, personal)?
(California State University, 2010)
PURPOSE ACTIVITY
Using the first page of the article provided, evaluate and determine the purpose for which the information exists.
What is the information’s purpose (i.e., to inform, teach, sell, entertain, persuade)?
Is there a clear intention or purpose made by the authors/sponsors?
What is the information based on (i.e., fact, opinion, propaganda)?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Is the information based on bias (i.e., political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, personal)?
EVALUATING THE INFORMATION
With the amount of information out on the Internet, the researcher will be able to find good information. The information not surface on the first search and the topic may need to be refined. Given the five criteria for evaluating information, the researcher should be able to find the appropriate information.
Take time afterward reading the information to evaluate the information and determine an overall assessment of the information. Was the information useful? Did the information appear to be from a reliable source or not? Did the information present a specific viewpoint? Would this information be a good source of support for the research?
A final tip when conducting an information search – while Wikipedia is useful for finding initial information, it comes with no guarantees of validity. For academic research, it is not recommended to cite it as a source.
EVALUATING THE INFORMATION SUMMARY
Remember the criteria when evaluating the
information: currency, relevance, authority,
accuracy, and purpose.
If the information cannot answer these criteria,
continue to search.
References
Association of College and Research Libraries. (2000). Information literacy competency standards for higher education.
American
Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/standards/standards.pdf
California State University (2010). Evaluating information – applying the CRAAP test. Meriam Library. Retrieved from
http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/eval_websites.pdf
ODU Libraries. (2013, September). Evaluating information sources. [Web page]. Retrieved from
http://www.lib.odu.edu/genedinfolit/5evaluating/index.html
UMUC Library. (2015) UMUC library one search. [Web page]. Retrieved from
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/eds/search/advanced?sid=d91ab02f-a52e-4a9a-a792-
ed77ed25592d%40sessionmgr115&vid=3&hid=108
JUST FOR FUN:
INFORMATION LITERACY WORD SEARCH