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Evaluating Information: A Sequenced Tutorial

This tutorial explores how to evaluate information according to several important criteria, including currency, relevance, authority, authority, accuracy, appropriateness, and purpose.

Welcome

Evaluating Information: A Sequenced Tutorial

What to look for…

How to judge….

Currency

How timely is the information?
When was the information first published?
Has it been updated or revised?

Relevance

How well does the information address your needs?
How does the information relate to your topic?
Is the information similar in nature to other resources you are using?
Is this an acceptable format for your needs?

Authority

Who is responsible for the information?
Who is the author of the work?
Who is the publisher of the work?
What are the author’s credentials or affiliations?
Are the credentials of the author(s)/publisher(s) present?

Accuracy

How reliable or truthful is the information?
Are there references for the information presented?
Is there a research methodology?
Has the information been reviewed in some manner?
Are there any spelling or grammatical errors?

Appropriateness

Who is the intended audience for the information?
Does the level of information presented match your level of research?
What is the objective of the information?
Is the information presented without bias?
Are there multiple viewpoints presented?

Purpose

What is the purpose of the information?
Why has this work been created? To inform? To entertain? To sell?
Is the purpose of the information made clear?