 Tips for evaluating information resources

 Popular Sources o Magazines and websites o Often written by journalists or professional writers for a general audience o Rarely give full citations for sources o Tend to be shorter than journal articles Source: University of Arizona Library

 Scholarly Sources o Books and journal articles o Are written by and for faculty, researchers or scholars (chemists, historians, doctors, artists, etc.) o Use scholarly or technical language o Tend to be longer o Include citations o Are peer reviewed o Can be in print or online Source: University of Arizona Library

 Choose sources that build your ethos  Consider what’s most appropriate for your topic and audience  Follow the assignment requirements  Ask me! See The Academic Writer pgs for additional information on evaluating sources

 Scholarly versus Popular Sources Scholarly versus Popular Sources

Use the CRAAP Test:  Currency: when was the information published?  Relevance: who is the audience and how in-depth is the information?  Authority: who is the author and what are his/her credentials?  Accuracy: is the information well-written and verifiable?  Purpose: is the information biased or prejudice? How is it funded?  Peer review: Has the source been reviewed by a panel of peers who are either professionals in that field or who have college degrees?

 Evaluating Resources Evaluating Resources

 Please write for 5-7 minutes on the following: o Summarize what you learned today regarding popular versus scholarly sources. Next, list 2-3 examples of each. o Summarize what you learned about how to evaluate resources. What steps should you follow? o How can you apply what you learned today to your current assignment? To other research-based projects you undertake? o Finally, jot down any questions or concerns you have.

 Appalachian State University Library Appalachian State University Library  University of Arizona Library University of Arizona Library  Peabody Library Peabody Library