Evaluating Resources
How do you know if you have the right resource?
Once you've found a resource, you need to make sure it has what you need. Here are a few things to keep in mind when evaluating your resources:
Who is the publisher?
- Is it self-published, or is there an affiliation with a research university?
- Do they have a good reputation?
Who is the author?
- What experience or authority does the author have in this field?
- Are they, or were they, a professor at a college or university?
When was it published?
- Was it published recently?
- Has the information on this topic changed since publication?
Is it peer-reviewed?
- Has the resource been evaluated by other scholars or experts prior to publication?
References & Citations
- What sources are being cited?
- Are they credible sources?
- What type of resources are they?
These aren't the only questions you can ask, but they are helpful tools in deciding whether or not to use a resource.
Other Helpful Links
Here are some links with more information on evaluating resources:
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Purdue OWL: Evaluating SourcesEvaluating sources means recognizing whether the information you read and include in your research is credible. Despite the large amount of information available, both in print and online, not all of it is valid, useful, or accurate. Evaluating sources of information that you might include in your writing is an important step in any research process.
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Evaluating Sources with RadarThere are so many different types of sources available to you. How do you decide which one to use? This video will show you how to use the RADAR approach to evaluate information sources.
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Introduction to Navigating Digital InformationWe love the internet! It's a wealth of information where we can learn about just about anything, but it's also kind of a pit of information that can be false or misleading. So, we're partnering with Mediawise and the Stanford History Education Group to make this series on Navigating Digital Information. Let's learn the facts about facts!
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Study Help: Evaluating InformationTips from the UniSA Library on how to evaluate information using the C.R.A.A.P. test to assess whether it is appropriate for your needs.
Research Tutorial Videos
The following videos are from our Credo Reference (InfoBase) database. To view them, make sure you are logged in to your MySCF account:
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How to Select a TopicReminds students that research is a process that requires flexibility and curiosity. Includes strategies to make connections between ideas and form a focused research question.
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How to Find Relevant SourcesPresents search as a process that requires flexibility and open mindedness. Includes strategies to help students navigate towards the most relevant results.
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What To Do When Your Topic is Too BroadIntroduces students to strategies for refining the scope of a research topic. Encourages students to engage in reflection and revision based on the analysis of their search results.
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Why You Need Many SourcesEncourages students to seek out multiple sources of information in order to gain a fuller understanding of their research topic Reminds students not to analyze information in isolation. Instead, students are encouraged to make connections between sources to get a sense of the full picture.
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Paraphrasing, Quoting, and SummarizingWhen presenting your research findings, you can quote, paraphrase, or summarize to capture the original meaning of your sources. This video takes a look at the process.
Need help?
Still have questions?
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or ask us a question online.