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

 

Accuracy

Determining if the information contained within a resource is accurate can be a difficult task. However, asking the following questions can help you decide if the information has been well-researched:

• Does the author use citations, references, or a bibliography to substantiate his or her claims?

• Does the author cite authoritative, scholarly resources?

• Does the author thoroughly explain how statistics and facts were collected?

• Is the author’s reasoning logical, and is the argument well-organized?

Examples:

• Accuracy in Print Sources
  
  
  
  

• Accuracy in Websites
  
  
  Due to the nature of the web, it is often difficult to verify whether information found on websites is accurate. If a site has a bibliography, then the information can be verified. But, if there is no indication of where the information came from then further research is recommended.
  http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm