Learning to Think
The Basics of Resource Evaluation
An important component of research is knowing how to evaluate the resources you've found. The aim of this guide is to give you the tools to determine if your resources are the right ones for your research. With every type of resource you use, whether it be a search engine, book, article or website, there are five main criteria to keep in mind:
1. Authority
Who is the author and/or publisher?
2. Accuracy
How reliable is the information provided?
3. Objectivity
What is the purpose of the resource?
4. Currency
How up-to-date is the resource?
5. Coverage
Does the resource contain information relevant to your topic?
This guide will look at four types of resources - search engines/databases, books, articles and websites - and discuss the special considerations that need to be made in evaluating each of them.
