Evaluation of Information

Web Resources     Authority & Credibility Who publishes this web page? What makes the author(s) an authority on this subject? Does the author(s) cite his/her experience/credentials? Are they accredited or endoresed by a reputable organization? If the site contains articles, do they contain footnotes?  If so, does material taken from other sources appear to be fully credited?   Scope, Coverage, and Relevance Who ois the intended audience - general, specialized readership, scholars, etc.? What is the level of the material - basic, advanced, etc.? What time period is covered? What geographical area is covered? Is this information a subset of a more comprehensive source?  If so, who abridged it and why?   Bias and Accuracy How is the information presented - fact, opinion, propaganda, etc.? If presented as fact, is it accurate? Is there a bias - cultural, political, religious, etc.? If so, is the bias clearly stated?   Currency / Timeliness Is there a date on the web page? If so, how current is the date? How frequently is the web site updated? Is some of the information obviously out of date?   Quality What was the quality of the research methodology? Did it use accepted methodologies for its field, insofar as you know? What is the validity? Is the article clearly written and well-organized? Is new research being reported or is the author reviewing previously conducted research? Does the author agree or disagree with the majority iof other scholars in the discipline? Is this the first article of its kind within its discipline?   Commercialism Is the presenter selling something - a product, a philosophy, himself / herself? Does the page have a corporate sponsor? Are there any hidden costs? Do you have to enter personal identification in order to proceed?

Print and Other Sources books, e-books, online magazines, newspapers, journal articles, government documents, etc.   Authority & Credibility Who publishes the book or journal? Who is the author(s) of the book or article? What makes the author(s) and authority on this subject? Does the author(s) cite his / her experience / credentials? Does the book or article contain footnotes?  If so, does material taken from other sources appear to be fully credited?   Scope and Relevance Who is the intended audience - general, specialized readership, scholars, etc.? What is sthe level of the material - basic, advanced, etc.? Is the material appropriate and useful for your purposes?   Coverage What time period is covered? What geographical area is covered? How comprehensive and specific is the information?   Bias and Accuracy How is the information presented - fact, opinion, propaganda, etc.? If presented as fact, is it accurate? Is there a bias - cultural, political, religious, etc.? If so, is the bias clearly stated?   Currency and Timeliness How recent is the book or article? How important is this to you and / or your topic?   Quality What was the quality of the research methodology? Did it use accepted methodologies for its field, insofar as you know? What is the validity? Is the article clearly written and well-organized?   Context How does the book or article fit into its discipline discourse? Is new research being reported or is the author reviewing previously conducted research? Does the author agree or disagree with the majority of other scholars in the discipline? Is this the first article of its kind within its discipline?