Evaluating the resources you use is a critical step in your research process. Many evaluation tools have been developed to evaluate either journal articles or websites. Below are links to some of these resources.
Lateral Reading is an evaluation method that asks you to look at sources other than the original website.
The C.A.R.S. Checklist was originally developed by Robert Harris. The acronym C.A.R.S. stands for
The C.A.R.S. checklist was developed to help students and other researchers develop criteria to evaluate whether websites contained accurate, current, factual information rather than slanted, opinion based or inaccurate material. The links listed in the box below lead to websites that detail the C.A.R.S. checklist in different ways. The box to the left list other methods of evaluating websites.
The CRAAP Criteria contains a list of questions to help you determine if the information you have is reliable.
Currency: The timeliness of the information.
When was the information published or posted?
Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
Relevance:The importance of the information for your needs.
Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience?
Authority: The source of the information.
What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
Accuracy: The reliability and correctness of the informational content.
Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Purpose: The reason the information exists.
What is the purpose of the information? to inform? to sell? to persuade?
Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Does the language or tone seem biased? Is it free of emotion?
Based on Miriam Library Research Station - California State University Chico - http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/evalsites.html
The Sheridan Libraries web guide on Evaluating Information (developed at Johns Hopkins University) lists the following criteria--
See the link below for more detailed information.
Berkeley Library at the University of California Berkeley developed the following list of evaluative criteria;;
See the link below for more detailed information.