Why evaluate?
Information takes many forms and can be easy to find - but it's not always easy to determine good quality from poor quality information. You'll need to be critical in finding good information from primary sources.
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Here are some tips to help you distinguish between the two types:
Primary Sources
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Secondary Sources
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There are many clues to identifying research articles - those that publish primary research. Read the abstract (summary) of the article, which often indicates that an original study or experiment formed the basis of the article. Examples of what to look for in the abstract include wording such as:
There are also clues to identifying secondary sources. Again, reading the abstract of the article will clue you in to whether or not the authors conducted the research that's being written about. Look for wording such as:
Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish between primary and secondary sources. If you're not sure, contact the library for help.
What is a peer-reviewed journal?
Journals that are peer-reviewed are edited by professionals in the field. Each article submitted for publication in the journal must be reviewed by others to check for accuracy and originality before being accepted for publication. Scholarly journals are often peer-reviewed. Scholarly articles are usually written with standard components, such as: an abstract, a methods section, discussion, a conclusion, and a bibliography of sources used to write that article.
Peer review does not usually occur for articles in popular magazines. These articles are usually written by reporters or others, and are not passed by a review board before publication.
Books are reviewed by an editorial board (and possibly others) before being published.
There is no review process for web sites - anyone can publish anything on the web!
Critical Questions
Read information you find from any source with a critical eye! Use common sense and a little critical thinking before deciding on a reputable source of information. Consider these points when evaluating books, articles and web sites:
Who?
Who wrote it? What ideas is the author trying to promote? Does the author seem to favor one idea over another? Could this affect the conclusions drawn? Who is the intended audience of the information: professionals, laypersons, the general public?
Check:
What?
What ideas, theories, and/or major points are being conveyed? Is the information new to you, or are you already familiar with what is being discussed? Is the information accurate and reliable (can you find other information that validates it)? Does the information you found pertain to the aspect of the topic you're writing about?
Check:
Where?
Where's the information from? (see also "Who?")
Check:
When?
How old is the information? Is it too old to be useful (this can vary, depending on the area and type of information!)?
Check:
If you have questions about the type, accuracy, or reliability of information you find, Ask Us! We can guide you through the evaluation process.