A - Author. Who wrote the resource? Who are they? What are their affiliations?
C - Currency. When was this resource written and published? Does this resource fit into the currency of your topic?
T - Truth. How accurate is this information? Can you verify any of the claims in other sources?
U - Unbiased. Is the information presented to sway the audience to a particular point of view? Resources, unless otherwise stated, should be impartial. Critically evaluate the resources’ subject terms for inherent biases.
P - Privilege. Are the authors the only scholars who might write or publish on this topic? Who is missing in this conversation?
Stahura, Dawn. “ACT UP for Evaluating Sources: Pushing Against Privilege.” College and Research Library News, vol. 79, no. 10, 2018. Association of College and Research Libraries, https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/17434/19242. Accessed 2 Oct. 2022.
The library’s databases include multicultural perspectives in scholarship that are often overlooked and underrepresented (Ex. Ethnic News Watch, LGBTQ+ Source, EBSCO Diversity eBooks Collection).
This is perhaps the major criterion used in evaluating information. Who wrote this? When we look for information with some type of critical value, we want to know the basis of the authority with which the author speaks. Here are some possible filters:
The publishing body also helps evaluate any kind of document you may be reading. Is it self-published or did an organization invest money to print it for the public to read?
Ask the following questions to assess the "publisher":
Currency refers to the timeliness of information. . . . Date of Publication - How important for your issue?
Apply the following criteria to ascertain currency:
Also consider:
Accuracy or verifiability of details is an important part of the evaluation process, especially when you are reading the work of an unfamiliar author presented by an unfamiliar organization, or presented in a non-traditional way.
Criteria for evaluating accuracy include:
Point of view or bias reminds us that information is rarely neutral.
Because data is used in selective ways to form information, it generally represents a point of view.
Every writer wants to prove his point, and will use the data and information that assists him in doing so. When evaluating information found on the Internet, it is important to examine who is providing the "information" you are viewing, and what might be their point of view or bias.
The popularity of the Internet makes it the perfect venue for commercial and sociopolitical publishing.
These areas in particular are open to highly "interpretative" uses of data.
Referral to and/or knowledge of the literature refers to the context in which the author situates his or her work. This reveals what the author knows about his or her discipline and its practices. This allows you to evaluate the author's scholarship or knowledge of trends in the area under discussion. The following criteria serve as a filter for all formats of information:
When doing research, you should use a variety of sources such as books, articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals, and websites. To ensure you are including only valid information in your research, evaluate your sources using the criteria below.
Criteria | Questions to Ask |
Authority / Credibility |
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Accuracy |
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Scope / Relevance |
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Currency / Date Some written works are ageless (e.g., classic literature) while others (e.g., technological news) become outdated quickly. It is important to determine if currency is pertinent to your research. |
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Objectivity / Bias / Reliability Every author has an opinion. Recognizing this is instrumental in determining if the information presented is objective or biased. |
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Style / Functionality |
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