Secondary Education: Evaluate Sources

The problem with searching for information, and especially on the Internet, is that we don't always know where it comes from and whether or not it is worth trusting. 

Be selective and evaluate the information you find by:

• Consider the information source, and give the content a critical look over.
• Using a tool to guide to guide you in evaluating the source for credibility and relevance.

You can use the CRAAP Test linked in the PDF above, or zoom onto the infographic on the right, to help you decide whether or not you should use the information you find for ANY source, not just for the Internet.

More Source Evaluation Guidelines

While you are searching for information, reading entire articles or book chapters is time-consuming!

Read efficiently during your search for by following these tips:

1. Read the abstract or introduction for a general summary of the journal article or book chapter. Does the abstract seem relevant to your research question?
   If YES, move on to step 2.
   If NO, discard.
2. Jump to the Reference Section of the article or book chapter: Did the author cite resources that appear credible, like other scholarly articles or books?
   If YES, move on to step 3.
   If NO, discard.
3. Read the discussion and conclusion section to gain a clearer understanding of the article's/chapter's main claims. Is the content relevant?
   If YES, move on to steps 4 and 5.
   If NO, discard. 
4. Critically read the rest of the article or chapter, spending as much time as necessary to do so:
   • What is the author's position? Does their argument seem valid?
   • Does the author seem neutral or too biased? 
5. Take notes on the source, keeping your research question in mind so your notes are relevant.

Adapted from Meriam Library, California State University, Chico (2018)

Credit: Western Libraries, University of Western Ontario