When was the information published or posted? The Big 5 Criteria can help you evaluate your sources for credibility: Currency: Check the publication date and determine whether it is sufficiently current for your topic. Inaccurate, questionable, or out-of-date sources can undermine your ideas and cause the reader to question your authority on your topic. Selecting the Best Information Sources All information sources are not the same The best information for a particular information need might be found in a variety of different places Selecting the best information source for your topic is part of evaluating your sources To be a well-educated college student, you need to know how to identify, select, access, search for, utilize, Criteria for Evaluating Sources Criteria: Questions to Ask: Authority / Credibility Determining the author for a source is important in deciding whether information is credible. The CRAAP Test is a way to evaluate any information source which you are considering referencing.The CRAAP Test consists of 5 basic evaluation criteria: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. Use these techniques for information you find on websites and … There are six (6) criteria that should be applied when evaluating any Web site: authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, coverage, and appearance. (Colorado Community College System, 2019). Authority qqIs the name of the author, group, or editor responsible for creating the work clearly displayed? Examine each information source you locate and assess sources using the following criteria: Timeliness Your resources need to be recent enough for your topic. Relevant and informed sources can help you to support and prove your thesis and persuade your audience, so evaluating and selecting sources carefully is an important part of writing a strong, convincing paper. When was the information last revised or updated? Currency: The timeliness of the information. Criteria for the Evaluation of Web Pages 2. Criteria for Evaluating Web Resources. Pay attention to your subjective reactions. Choose sources that meet criteria for evaluating web sites (see Evaluation Criteria). The first one is the Accuracy of Web Documents. When evaluating sources these five criteria should be kept in mind. The five basic evaluation criteria outlined in this chapter provide a starting point for crafting an evaluation scheme that addresses the “something old, something new” nature of the World Wide Web and its vast array of resources. Module 5: Examining and Evaluating Reference Sources Part I Books A Hands-On Approach to Print Resources There is no substitute for knowing the reference books, databases, and other electronic resources that your library offers. Because of the hodge-podge of information on the Internet, it is very important you develop evaluation skills to assist you in identifying quality Web pages. To ensure you include only valid information in your research, evaluate your sources using the criteria below. Web users are encouraged to employ a healthy skepticism when visiting any site and to use criteria, such as those below, to gather evidence on the quality of the information in the Web site. What qualifications and knowledge does this person have to write this document? CHECKLIST: EVALUATING SOURCES Is this source reliable? Use the checklist below to determine whether a source is likely to provide credible, trustworthy information. Examine sources carefully to determine how relevant they are to your particular topic. Coverage (relevance): Consider whether the source is relevant to your research and whether it covers the topic adequately for your needs. Who wrote the page and how can they be contacted? 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