Evaluating Information

Great! You’ve found some resources you think will help answer your question. Now what?

You need to evaluate them to make sure they are useful, reliable and appropriate for your topic.

Laura Sloane 2015

C.A.R.P TestYou can evaluate all types of resources—websites, journal articles, government reports or other documents—using the same simple test, known as the C.A.R.P test

• CURRENCY

• ACCURACY

• RELIABILITY

• PURPOSE

Let’s look at this in more detail…

• When was it written? Is it still in date for your topic?

• Is historical or current information required to answer your question?

Currency• Who wrote it? • Are they qualified to have an

opinion on this topic?Authorit

y• Is the source trustworthy?• Does the author support their

argument with references?Reliabilit

y• What is the perspective of the

piece?• Does it push an opinion or is it

factual?Purpose

Tips for evaluating specific resources

WebsitesThe internet is a fantastic search tool which you shouldn’t be afraid of using. However, because anyone can publish a webpage and say whatever they want, it needs to be more carefully evaluating than other resources.

The New Yorker cartoon by Peter Steiner, July 5, 1993.Image from Wikipedia

One way to evaluate a website if by checking the domain name to see who has published it:

Most Reliable Evaluate carefully

Best avoided

.edu (educational sites)

.gov (government)

.ac (academic)

.org (organizations)

.net (networks)

.asn (association)

.com (commercial websites)

Also check for an identifiable author, publication or update date and any references or links providedTIP! Play it safe. If you’re not

sure about the reliability of a website, it is best to steer clear.

Government ResourcesGovernment resources are assumed to be reliable, given that their main role is to provide accurate information to Parliament or the public.

In fact, they can be some of the most useful sources as they are normally comprehensive and up to date.

However, they still need to be evaluated. A research report will have very different content and purpose to a press release by a Minister. So keep in mind C.A.R.P principles—particularly with regards to the purpose of the information

Journal Articles

Is it peer reviewed?

A peer reviewed journal has been through a formal process where it is evaluated by subject specialists before publication. In this process they check that what the journal has to say is accurate and appropriately researched.

Most databases will have an option in advanced search to limit your results to peer reviewed articles, but the best way is to use the Ulrichsweb database

Using UlrichswebTo use Ulrichsweb, simply type the journal title in the search bar and click the search icon

The referee jumper indicates that the journal is peer reviewed

If you click on the title of the journal it will give you more information:

Remember!You can always ask a librarian if you need help

evaluating resources or using Ulrichsweb

This presentation was developed using material from:

Cassell, K. A., & Hiremath, U. (2013). When and how to use the Internet as a reference tool Reference and information services: An introduction (3rd ed., pp. 263-284). London: Facet Publishing.

Charles Sturt University. (2015). Information Literacy: Evaluate Information.   Retrieved from http://libguides.csu.edu.au/c.php?g=139563&p=914396