Evaluating What You Find

Why? How? What?

Bibliographic Criteria
Authority
Currency
Intended Audience
Source/Publisher

Content Criteria
Accuracy
Coverage/Scope
Objectivity/Bias
Quality
Relevance

Activity

 

Intended Audience

The intended audience of an information resource refers to the type of reader for whom the resource is written. Knowing the audience that the author is addressing can help you determine if the resource is appropriate for your purposes. Ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you select the appropriate resources for your needs:

• Is the resource written to a general audience of laypeople?

• Is the resource written to a specialized audience of subject experts that have knowledge of the specialized vocabulary for the field?

• Is the resource too basic, too advanced, too specialized, or perfectly appropriate for your needs?

Examples:

• Intended Audience in Print Sources