Globe Education Network Library / Research Guides / Evaluating Information

Evaluating Information

When you're researching on the internet, it's important to evaluate what you find because the information does not need to go through any traditional screeing process like print materials go through. Here are some methods to help you decide whether or not you'd like to use a source in your research assignment.

Methods to Evaluate your Sources

Who, Why, What, etc?

  • Who?
    • Who is the author, sponsoring organization, publisher?
    • Are they an expert in the field?
  • Why?
    • Why is the author publishing the information?
      • To sell you something?
      • To convince you of a belief? Is the information biased or balanced? Is the information objective or opinion?
      • Is it a joke?
      • Be aware that propaganda, misinformation and disinformation do exist. Elizabeth E. Kirk from Johns Hopkins University has an excellent summary for distinguishing these types of counterfeit information from valid information.
  • What?
  • Can you trust it?
    • Does the author cite his/her sources?
    • When was it published or last updated?
    • What is the URL suffix? .com .edu .org .net?
  • How does it compare?
    • How does this website compare to other websites, books, articles, etc. on the same topic?

C.R.A.P.

  • Currency
    • Is it up-to-date?
  • Reliability
    • Can you trust it? Does the author cite sources? What is the URL suffix?
  • Authority
    • Who is the author and does he/she have the authority to be writing/speaking about this topic?
  • Purpose
    • Why are they publishing this? to sell you something? to convince you of something? etc.

More about the CRAP test is available from LOEX.

Learn More About Evaluating Sources

Examples of Propaganda, Misinformation, and Disinformation

Be aware that propaganda, misinformation and disinformation do exist. Elizabeth E. Kirk from Johns Hopkins University has an excellent summary for distinguishing these types of counterfeit information from valid information.

Thursday January 27, 2011