Communication Studies 701: Information Evaluation

Currency:

Is the information up-to-date enough for my topic?

Rapid advancements in science necessitate looking for very current information when researching in this area. In other areas of study, older information may still be valued. Consult multiple sources to ascertain if there have been recent substantial developments in the field.

Currency (third criteria listed):

How would you define current for information?

Here are some questions to ask:

• When was the piece first written or most recently updated?
• Is the time frame appropriate for the information needed?
• So, if you are speaking on the American Civil War women (civil war was 1861-1865), could you use a diary written by a woman in 1863? Is this a current source?

Relevance:

Does the information pertain to my topic and cover it in enough depth to meet my needs?

Identifying a work's intended audience can help in determining its depth of coverage. Information for the general public will vary in depth. Information for children will be simple, while information aimed at professionals may require advanced training to understand.

Scope or coverage (fifth criteria listed)

Why do you think the scope of the source is important?

Here are some questions:

• What audience is the piece intended for?
• Is the information complete?

Authority:

Who is responsible for the content and what are their qualifications?

The following reflect positively on an author's authority to write about a subject

• author of multiple books and articles about the topic
• professor of a subject related to the topic
• affiliated with a recognized corporation, institution, or group in the field
• employed in a capacity related to the subject matter

Publication by a scholarly press or being subject to the peer review process before publication also reflect positively on a work's authority.

Authority (second criteria listed)

What do you think this means?

What if you can’t identify who wrote the article?

Here are some questions?

• Who is the author or sponsor of the information and why should you believe him/her/them? (What are their credentials?)
• Is there a way to establish the legitimacy of the author or sponsor? Contact information, etc.
• Is the source affiliated with a larger, reputable organization?

Accuracy:

Is the information reliable and free from error?

Authority often impacts accuracy. Experts and respected organizations strive to produce works ith accurate inforatmion.

Is there support for the information given?

Any author who borrows information from another source should ive credit to the original source through citations and a list of references. Works striving for accuracy will identify what information is borrowed and give the reader a complete reference so that he or she can locate the original source.

Evaluate accuracy in terms of your whole research project.

• Compare information with what you know about the topic
• Compare information with other sources

Accuracy (First criteria listed)

How would you evaluate the accuracy of an article?

Here are some questions to ask – there are more in your textbook on page 55.

• Can the factual information be easily verified?
• Are sources cited?
• Are they from reputable sources?
• Is the writing clear and well organized without typos, spelling, or grammatical errors?

Purpose:

Is the information presented without bias or is the bias acceptable for my project?

Why was the work created? Is its purpose to entertain, inform or explain, persuade, sell products or services, or a combination of these things? A work's purpose will influence what information is included and how it is presented. If a work is meant to persuade, the work's authors may exclude information that detracts from their case or place more emphasis on information that supports their arguments.

Beware of hidden agendas

Some works may appear to be information or explanatory when in fact they are expressing opinions or advocating for certain positions.

Using biased works

You may choose to use biased sites in your research. The important thing is to recognize that the works you are using are biased and to balance the information you find there with that found in other sources.

Objectivity (fourth criteria listed)

What do you think this refers to?

Here are some questions to ask:

• Is any bias evident?
• Is there advertising or sponsorship?
• Is the information intended to inform or to persuade?