Thanks to the internet, so much information is now readily available. However, not all that information is of equal value.
To evaluate information effectively, students should verify its source for credibility and biases, ensure it is up-to-date and supported by reliable sources, consider its purpose, and critically analyze its context and relevance.
Moreover, students need to consider their own research purposes. These steps empower students to make informed decisions about the information they use.
While, sources found through the library databases are more likely to be credible and reliable, information seekers should always critically evaluate information.
Consider the following methods and acronyms to help make the process easier.
The ACT UP Method
A - author. Who wrote the resource? Who are they? Background information matters.
C - currency. When was this resource written? When was it 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? Are there typos and spelling mistakes?
U - unbiased. Is the information presented to sway the audience to a particular point of view? Resources unless otherwise stated should be impartial.
P - privilege. Check the privilege of the author(s). Are they the only folks who might write or publish on this topic? Who is missing in this conversation? Critically evaluate the subject terms associated with each resource you found. How are they described? What are the inherent biases?
Credit: Stahura, D. (2018). ACT UP for evaluating sources: Pushing against privilege. College & Research Libraries News, 79(10), 551. https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.79.10.551
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