Evaluating Information Sources: A Guide for Credibility and Relevance

1. Evaluating information UDSM Library

2. Evaluate Information: Rationale • Why users should evaluate information and sources?: • It is a way of validating information obtained in order to prove the credibility of the evidence obtained • It ensures the extent to which the information obtained is relevant to the problem or research topic • It determines the nature of information obtained (is it a piece of evidence, opinion or propaganda) • Libraries & other information institutions have developed various evaluation criteria. Evaluation of information and sources considers both, print and non print sources (such as Internet sources).

3. Evaluate Information: Rationale • The evaluation process may be carried out based on: • Reviewing the information need with the information found • Reviewing the bibliographic information of the source found to determine how useful the information will be in relation to the topic or research problem • Reviewing and evaluate printed sources list.

4. Evaluation Criteria

5. Author • Who is the author? • Is there content information about the author • Credentials? • Author’s previous/other works • Institutional affiliation etc • Publisher?

6. Time • When was the source published? • How up to date is the information? • Does it include recent information? • Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic?

7. Coverage • Does the work update other sources • Does it substantiate other materials you have read • Does it add new information? • Does it extensively or marginally cover your topic? • Is the material primary or secondary in nature?

8. Accuracy • Is the information accurate when checked against other sources • How reliable and error free is the information

9. Form/Style • Is the publication organized logically? • Are the main points clearly presented? • Do you find the text easy to read, or is it stilted or choppy? • Is the author's argument repetitive? • Is it in text, image, and/or sound form? • In what package is the information being presented? • Is it a WWW or FTP document, a text file, a newsgroup posting, or an email message?

10. Documentation • Does the author explain where the information was obtained • Does the source contain a bibliography or list of sources consulted

11. Point of View • Is the information covered piece of evidence, opinion, or propaganda? • Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? • Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line with other works you have read on the same topic? • Is the author's point of view objective and impartial? • Is the language free of emotion-arousing words and bias?

12. Summary • In this session you learned how to: • critically evaluate information by looking at: • fact vs. opinion • authority of the information • form/style • currency of the information • be able to eliminate irrelevant information