Information
Finding Information
Some key points to consider when evaluating a text:
Assess the source for bias.
Who maintains or controls the information? Does that entity have a vested interest in influencing the information you receive? How might that affect your results?Assess the resource for reliability.
Is the article from a peer-reviewed journal? Is it written by a reputable scholar? Were the research methods sound? Look for documentation, like a good bibliography, but don’t be fooled by scholarly-looking articles with footnotes; just having this format does not mean that the information contained within is sound.Consider relevance and scope.
Even an unbiased, reliable source might not be right for your research. For instance, is it up to date? Does it paint a complete picture, or will you need more information to see all sides of the issue? How does it relate to the question you’re trying to answer, and the information you know you need?Alastair Smith’s Criteria for Evaluation of Internet Information Resources lists important questions to ask yourself when evaluating information on the Internet. Extremely short and to the point, it is a great guide for assessing the scope, content, and usability of a web resource.
A more in-depth explanation of evaluative tools for digital and print resources is Critical Evaluation of Resources, maintained by the University of California Berkeley Library. If you’re newer to researching, or even if you’re an old hand but are going to be researching heavily in the near future, this is an important place to start. For internet specific research, UC Berkeley's Finding Information on the Internet can help you compare search engines and use online subject directories.