Evaluating Resources

University Library

Learning outcomes

In this presentation, you’ll learn:• What criteria you can use to evaluate

resources.• How to check for a resource’s currency,

relevancy, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

Evaluating resources

• There are many things to consider when determining if a resource is appropriate to use.o Currency o Relevancyo Authority o Accuracy o Purpose

(Meriam Library, 2010)

Currency

• When was the info published or posted?

• Has the info been revised or updated?

• Are links functional?• How current does the

info need to be for your project?

Relevancy

• Does the info relate to your topic or answer your question?

• Who is the intended audience?

• Is the info at the appropriate level?

Authority

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?• Are the author’s credentials or organizational

affiliations given? o What are they?

• What are the author’s qualifications to write on the topic ?

• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?

• Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?

Accuracy

• Has the information been reviewed or referred?

• Can you verify the info in another source or from personal knowledge?

• Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?

• Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?

Purpose

• What is the purpose of the information? To inform? Teach? Sell? Entertain? Persuade?

• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?

Summary

• Evaluate resources based on:o Currency o Relevancyo Accuracyo Authority o Purpose

Questions?

Library staff are here to help you. o Call us

702-968-2040 (Henderson) 801-878-1020 (South Jordan)

o Text questions to 801-872-9715o Ask a question online at

http://libanswers.roseman.edu

References

References

Meriam Library. (2010). Evaluating information – Applying the CRAAP Test. Retrieved from

http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/eval_websites.pdf