Evaluating Your Resources Guide You have some resources for your research paper. But, are they the right resources?

Evaluating All Resources: The CRAAP Test 1 (1=worst, 10=best) Provides criteria to determine the reliability of your resources Can be used for all types of resources (print, electronic, audio-visual) Answer the following questions, based on a 10 point scale 1 Developed by California State University, Chico Excellent Good Average Borderline Average 30-below Unacceptable

Currency When was the information published? Has it been updated or revised? Are the links still functioning? Relevance Does the information relate to your search topic? For whom is the information written (children, adults, rocket scientists)? Do you feel comfortable citing/quoting this source in your paper? Authority Who is the author, publisher, creator, sponsor of the site? Can you locate the authors credentials or affiliations? Is the author qualified to write this information? Can you find contact information (address, , phone)? Accuracy Where does the information come from? Are their sources or references? Has the information been reviewed by anyone else? Are there grammatical or spelling errors? Does the language seem biased or strongly favoring one side? Purpose Whats the purpose of this information? Educational material, sales pitch, entertainment? Is the information politically or religiously charged? Does the information seem opinionated?

Ill Just Google It: Evaluating Web Resources 1 Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook. Available from Internet; accessed 30 July 2010.

Websites to Assist in Evaluating Websites Web Page Evaluation Checklist (University of California, Berkeley) lForm.pdf Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask (University of California, Berkeley) luate.html Evaluate Web Pages Tutorial (Widener University)

If I can find on the internet, why do I have to use a book? : Using Print Resources Why use a book? Been around for thousands of years and have served many purposes, but they are still relevant in todays digital environment Awesome for locating comprehensive information, in-depth analysis and understanding, covering any imaginable topic Allow you the freedom to read and digest information at your leisure (theyre lighter than carrying around a computer!)

Dont forget though, that books need evaluating just like websites! Who wrote the book? What are the authors credentials? Is the book current on the topic? Does that matter for my research? Does the book have an index, bibliography, or statistics? Is the book biased or does it present arguments for both sides?

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