Evaluating information is a critical part of the research process and is a valuable skill that will help you in everyday use of information.
Developing this skill now will help you long after you have graduated.
Many criteria can be used to evaluate information, and we will focus on three:
Authority
Who is responsible for writing the material? What are their credentials?
Relevance
How does this information relate to my topic? Will it help me to make a point?
Timeliness
Was the information researched and written at a time apporpriate to your topic?
ANYONE can publish on the Web! What you see are a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Evaluate each website critically before using it for your research.
Scholarly - Also known as academic, refereed, or peer-reviewed journals
Popular - Also known as general interest magazines
Trade Magazines - Also known as professional or industry journals, newsletters, or magazines