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Evaluating Information Evaluating Information SourcesSources

Prof. Dr. Khalid MahmoodProf. Dr. Khalid MahmoodDepartment of Library & Information Department of Library & Information

ScienceScience

University of the PunjabUniversity of the Punjab

Lahore, PAKISTANLahore, PAKISTAN

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Evaluating information Evaluating information sources for relevance – sources for relevance –

BookBook• Skim its index for your key words, then skim Skim its index for your key words, then skim the pages on which those words occur.the pages on which those words occur.

• Skim the first and last paragraphs in Skim the first and last paragraphs in chapters that use a lot of your key words.chapters that use a lot of your key words.

• Skim introduction, summary chapters, and Skim introduction, summary chapters, and so on.so on.

• Skim the last chapter, especially the first Skim the last chapter, especially the first and last two or three pages.and last two or three pages.

• If the source is a collection of articles, skim If the source is a collection of articles, skim the editor’s introduction.the editor’s introduction.

• Check the bibliography for titles relevant to Check the bibliography for titles relevant to your topic.your topic.

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Evaluating information Evaluating information sources for relevance – sources for relevance –

ArticleArticle• Read the abstract.Read the abstract.• Skim the introduction and conclusion, Skim the introduction and conclusion,

or if they are not marked by headings, or if they are not marked by headings, skim the first six or seven paragraphs skim the first six or seven paragraphs and the last four or five.and the last four or five.

• Skim for section headings, and read the Skim for section headings, and read the first and last paragraphs of those first and last paragraphs of those sections.sections.

• Check the bibliography for titles Check the bibliography for titles relevant to your topic.relevant to your topic.

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Evaluating information Evaluating information sources for relevance – sources for relevance –

OnlineOnline• If it looks like a printed article, follow the If it looks like a printed article, follow the

steps for a journal article.steps for a journal article.• Skim sections labeled “introduction,” Skim sections labeled “introduction,”

“overview,” “summary,” or the like. If there “overview,” “summary,” or the like. If there are none, look for a link labeled “About the are none, look for a link labeled “About the Site” or something similar.Site” or something similar.

• If the site has a link labeled “Site Map” or If the site has a link labeled “Site Map” or “Index,” check it for your key words and skim “Index,” check it for your key words and skim the referenced pages.the referenced pages.

• If the site has a “search” resource, type in If the site has a “search” resource, type in your key words.your key words.

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Use colour post-it to mark Use colour post-it to mark relevancerelevance

–RedRed - high relevance - high relevance–BlueBlue – medium relevance – medium relevance–YellowYellow – low relevance – low relevance

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•AudienceAudience•AuthorityAuthority•BiasBias•CurrencyCurrency•ScopeScope

Evaluating information Evaluating information sources for reliabilitysources for reliability

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AudienceAudience

• What age group/education What age group/education level/political affiliation/etc. is level/political affiliation/etc. is the audience?the audience?

• Is this for a person with in-depth Is this for a person with in-depth knowledge or a layperson?knowledge or a layperson?

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AuthorityAuthority

• Does the author’s name appear on Does the author’s name appear on the Web page?the Web page?

• What are his/her credentials?What are his/her credentials?• Does the author provide contact Does the author provide contact

information?information?

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BiasBias

• Is the source objective?Is the source objective?• Could the writer or the Could the writer or the

organization’s affiliation put a organization’s affiliation put a different spin on the information different spin on the information presented?presented?

• What is the purpose of the What is the purpose of the source?source?

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CurrencyCurrency

• When was the work published?When was the work published?• When was the work last updated?When was the work last updated?• How old are the sources or items How old are the sources or items

in the bibliography?in the bibliography?• How current is the topic?How current is the topic?• If a Web page, do the links work?If a Web page, do the links work?

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ScopeScope

• What does/doesn’t the work What does/doesn’t the work cover?cover?

• Is it an in-depth study (many Is it an in-depth study (many pages) or superficial (one page)?pages) or superficial (one page)?

• Are sources and statistics cited?Are sources and statistics cited?• If a site, does it offer unique info If a site, does it offer unique info

not found in any other source?not found in any other source?