Adult and Online Learners

What does it mean to evaluate a source?

• To evaluate a source means to look for details within the publication about its purpose, author, and think about how you can use the source in your own research.

Why would I want to evaluate my source?

• You want to evaluate sources to understand your own bias and think about how to avoid writing a biased research assignment. Evaluating a source you find through the library databases or Google will help you to think critically about how the information ended up in front of you.

I – identify emotions attached to a topic

• What are your honest opinions regarding the topic?
• Have you addressed your internal biases?

F-- Find reference sources and evaluate bias for a proper view of the topic

• Conduct a search in a resource like CQ Researcher, Opposing Viewpoints, or another reference source to find background information on your topic. 
• Look at the bias/perspective of your reference source as well

I -- Intellectual courage to seek authoritative voices on topic that may be outside of your thesis

• Identify credible materials for all the viewpoints (yours and others with differing viewpoints)

A -- Authority established

• Who is the author and what are their credentials?
• Does the author have education and experience in that field?
• How objective, authoritative, and reliable are the authors?
• Do they authors specialize in publishing/writing in certain topics/fields?

P -- Purpose or point of view of the source

• What can be said about the content, context, style, structure, and/or accuracy of the information provided by the source?
• Are conclusions offered? What information and evidence did the author supply to support their conclusion?
• Are diverse perspectives represented?
• Why was the information provided by the source published?
• What are the perspectives, opinions, assumptions and biases of whoever is responsible for this information?

P -- Publisher

• When was the information published?
• Is the information provided by the source in its original form or has it been revised to reflect changes in knowledge?
• Is the publisher scholarly? Commercial? Government agency? Self-published?
• Is the information timely and is it updated regularly?

L -- List of resources

• Where else can information provided by the source be found?
• Is the information authentic?
• Is it unique or has it been copied?

Y -- Year of publication

• What makes the information "current" or relevant?
• Can you find more current or relevant information? 
• Is the cited information current?

Source: https://uwyo.libguides.com/ifiapply