Evaluating Information

Not all information is of equal value. Any information you retrieve must be carefully examined to determine its usefulness and quality. The following exercise will illustrate the importance of evaluating the information you find.

Let’s say you are writing a paper on current AIDS research and you have found the following information sources. Look at each source below carefully to determine if it would be appropriate for your assignment. If appropriate, select "Yes"; otherwise select "No".

Would this be an appropriate source for my assignment? Yes No	This would be an appropriate source for my assignment. Yes No
This would be an appropriate source for my assignment. Yes No	This would be an appropriate source for my assignment. Yes No
This would be an appropriate source for my assignment. Yes No	This would be an appropriate source for my assignment. Yes No
From the exercise you just completed, you can see that all information, whether print or electronic, must be carefully analyzed. In the Web environment, the need for evaluation is even more critical because almost ANYONE can place information there without it being monitored for quality or accuracy. General CRITERIA for evaluating information includes: Appropriateness - Recognize that not all information is appropriate for a particular assignment or information need. Compare the usefulness of an information source to the parameters of your assignment. Audience - Who is the intended audience? Currency - Check to see whether the information source on your topic is current or out-of-date. Topics of continuing and rapid development, (e.g., science-related topics), demand more current information. For topics in other areas, like the humanities, older information may still be appropriate and worthwhile. Authority & Credibility - How to tell if the information is from a reliable source and is credible. Accuracy - Information can be fact, opinion, propaganda or can have errors. Click on any of the above criteria or click the next button Is the information appropriate?