Evaluate Information Checklist
QCC Databases and books are excellent sources for reputable, credible information. If you are not sure how to access/use them, see a librarian at the Reference Desk in the library. Whether you are looking at books, the Internet, or scholarly journals in databases, complete this checklist to ensure your information needs are met:
What Kind Of Information Do You Need?
Depending on your research project, specific information sources may be more appropriate than others.
For example, if you are writing an article about food blogging in the United States, blogs may be one type of information source you could use.
If you are exploring a possible link between
pesticides and cancer, scholarly journals and
books may be more appropriate.
Who Wrote It?
The author of the information (whether a person or organization) should have knowledge about the topic and/or expertise in analyzing and presenting information.
Their names should be evident and you should be able to contact them.
Why Did They Write It?
There could be many reasons why a piece of information was created: to persuade you to do something, to inform you about something, to sell you something, etc.
Ask yourself: What does the author want me to do with this information?7
Audience Checklist
__ Anyone
__ Researchers/professionals
__ Members of a trade or industry (e.g.
educators)
Currency Checklist
__ Currency is important for this topic
__ Currency does not matter
__ The information is current
__ The information is not current
Accuracy Checklist
__ Expertise of author is stated
__ Sources are cited
__ Text is free of grammatical errors
Evaluate Information Checklist (cont’d)
Who Was it Written For?
The intended audience impacts the quantity, quality, and range of what is presented. The more general the audience, the more general the information.
The reverse is also true: the more specific the audience (e.g. researchers) the more the
information will be focused and detailed.
How Old/New Is It?
Some topics are more time-sensitive than others. For example, information about the latest computer technology is more time sensitive than information about the first moon landing in 1969.
Is It Accurate?
Some tip-offs to accuracy include the stated expertise of the author, whether the article cites the sources used, where the article was posted, and the care taken in presenting the information (e.g. no typos).