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

 

Coverage/Scope

The coverage or scope of the information resource relates to the breadth and depth of the resource. Breadth refers to how well all the aspects of the subject are covered. Depth refers to the level of detail that the resource goes into for the subject. The levels of breadth and depth you require will depend on your information need. For each information resource, ask the following questions:

• Are all of the important aspects of the subject covered?

• Are there any significant pieces of information that have been left out?

• Does the information resource provide enough detail to answer the question? Or does it provide more detail than what is necessary to answer the question?

Examples:

• Coverage/Scope in Print Sources
  
  
  
  

• Coverage/Scope in Websites
  The scope of websites can sometimes be difficult to determine. Some websites will have a distinct layout and include a table of contents or navigation that will help you determine what the coverage of the site is.