How Do You
Evaluate Information?
Coffman Library Media Center
5/29/2016
1
Authority
• Who is the author?
• Does the author have specific skill
or knowledge about the topic?
• How do you know this person is an
expert for real?
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2
Accuracy
• Is the information correct - look at
the details.
• Compare 2 or more other sources to
see if the information is the same.
• Use the listed bibliography to find
those additional sources.
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3
Objectivity
• There should be no bias, opinion or
prejudice.
• It has a balanced point of view
(more than one side to the story).
• There should be no emotional
language or editorializing.
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4
Currency
•
•
•
•
Is the information up-to-date?
Look at the publication date.
Look at the “Last Updated” link.
Does your research topic need
current information?
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5
Coverage
• This is the extent to which the
information is covered.
• In other words, can you find all of the
information that you need or are you
only getting “headline” news.
• Indepth vs. surface
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6
Real Life
• We have a boat-load of information
coming at us every day.
• This criteria simplifies how we
choose information.
• “Brand Name” information actually
is better than “No Name”
information.
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7