Evaluating Information

Initial reading

GIVEN: Items accessed following catalogue search...
ASSESS: Value of items against stated criteria

Having assessed the potential value of an item during your searches, you should now re-evaluate materials during your initial reading (with the benefit of additional information).
Re-visit the criteria covered during the search phase, by careful reading of the foreword, the bibliography, and any publisher's notes.

Evaluate against the following additional criteria...

• Scope
• Accuracy
• Objectivity

Scope - is the range appropriate?

• Does it have the detail you need?
• Does it supplement other sources you have read, rather than confirm information you already know?

Look at the range it covers - is it primary or secondary source material?
Primary material contains new information or a new interpretation of previously known information.
Secondary material is interpretation and comment on primary material by others.

If your essay is on a broad topic don't try to absorb every detail you can find. Start with an article from an encyclopedia or find a book that gives a general overview of your topic.

When you need detailed information an academic article is more likely to help you than a general overview.

Accuracy - a measure of reliability

• Can you check the information elsewhere?
• Are the sources of any facts clearly and correctly listed?
• Do you have faith in the spelling and other proof reading aspects of the work?

Key dates, facts and other figures should always be verified from alternative sources to ensure that they are correct. Check that they come from the source cited in the work.
An incorrect citation may imply that the facts are not correct.
While spelling and proof reading may seem trivial, consistent misspellings may mean that facts and figures are also typed or printed incorrectly. They may also imply that the information has not been thoroughly checked for inaccuracies.

Objectivity - more than one viewpoint

Most sources are subjective in some way.
Good academic work considers all viewpoints and uses material from many sources to show a depth of research and consideration of all aspects of a question.
Indicators of bias in information sources:

• Use of emotive or derogatory language
• Omissions in the information presented
• Contradictions to other material you have read
• Viewpoints that seem extreme to you

You may disagree with some sources, but you need to show your familiarity with them, and demonstrate why you disagree with them.