Evaluating Information

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Finding information is only one step in the research process. The following criteria may help you evaluate your information source.
 

Date of Publication

Your research topic and assignment will help you to determine the currency of information that you collect. Current information tends to be more important for scientific topics, while subjects in the humanities may require older information.

• When was the source published?

• Is current information important for your topic?

Edition

Further editions demonstrate that a source has been updated to reflect new information, and may be a standard source in the field.

• Is this a first edition?

Title of Journal

This is an important indicator of the complexity and authority of the information. (see Scholarly, Popular and Professional/Trade Journals )

• Is this a scholarly or popular journal?

Intended Audience

Consider the intended audience for this resource. If the source is difficult for you to read and understand it may not be useful.

• Is it aimed at a specialized or general audience?

• Is the language difficult to understand?

Coverage

Collecting sources relevant to your topic is important when writing a paper or giving a speech.

• Does the source contribute to or support other information you have found on your topic?

• Is this a primary or a secondary source?

• Does it add to what you already know?

• Does it provide a new or useful perspective?

Content Analysis

Is the content appropriate for your information need?

• Examine the source.

• Read the preface, scan the table of contents and the index to get an overview of the source.

• Check to see if the source includes a bibliography. A bibliography will help point you toward other resources on your topic.

Credibility of the Author

Consider these factors and then decide if and how you would like to use this authors work in research.

• What are the authors' credentials, or background in this area?

• Has your instructor or other scholars in the discipline mentioned this author?

• Has this author written other articles, papers, reports or books on this same topic?

Objective vs. Biased

Depending on your information need, you may find the information unsuitable of it is biased or too general.

• Is the information fact or opinion?

• Does the author attempt to remain objective?

• Is the information supported by other research or has this author provided sufficient evidence?

Writing Style

The style of writing may help you to decide the credibility of the author.

• Is the source logically organized?

• Are the ideas clearly presented?

• Is the text easy to read, or is it choppy and difficult to follow?

• Is the author statement or argument repetitive?

Post Evaluation Tips

Based on your evaluation, you may decide to not use some of the sources or find additional sources. Don't get frustrated. The purpose of writing papers, speeches, and projects is for you to learn. Research is just part of that learning process. It is possible that you may have to use several library resources or formats of information to get the information you need. The best thing to do is allow yourself plenty of time for research and ask for help from a librarian or your instructor if you run into any problems.

Quick tips on identifying Popular, Scholarly & Trade Journals

Scholarly Journals:

• Report original research or experimentation, often in specific academic disciplines.

• Targeted audience is the scholarly researcher, faculty, and students.

• Articles are written by experts in the field.

• Articles use jargon of the discipline, and assume a familiarity with the subject.

• Illustrations are few, and support the text, typically in the form of charts, graphs, and maps.

• Articles must undergo the peer review process prior to publication.

• Articles usually include footnotes or bibliographies using a standardized citation format.

• May be continuously pages from one issue to the next.
  Example: Issue 1 will end on page 455 and Issue 2 will begin on page 456

Popular Magazines:

• Cover news, current events, hobbies or special interests.

• Are targeted at the general public, and available to a broad audience.

• Articles are usually written by a member of the editorial staff or a free lance writer.

• Language of the article is geared for any educated audience, and does not assume familiarity with the subject matter.

• Include many illustrations, often with large, glossy photographs and graphics.

• Sources are sometimes cited, but do not usually include footnotes or a bibliography.

Professional/Trade Journals

• Written for experts in a particular field; may be extremely specialized.

• Designed to help professionals keep up with the latest developments and research in a particular field.

• Include notices about people, organizations, new publications, conferences, and topical issues in a field.

• Articles use the jargon of the field.

• If research results are reported they are unlikely to include a bibliography.

Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary Sources:

• Original resources that first report research or ideas.

• These may include newspapers, research reports, scholarly journals, trade journals, conference proceedings, dissertations or Web sites.

Secondary Sources

• Resources that analyze, describe, and synthesize the primary or original source.

• These include review articles, reference books such as encyclopedias and dictionaries, and textbooks.

Ask a Librarian

Need additional help? For further assistance with any topic you can always Ask a Librarian.