In an information-rich society, it's vital to remember that not all information resources are equal!
When you are looking for information, you are a researcher. As a researcher, you must evaluate the information you find and decide whether the content is:
Along with accessing, searching, and finding information, evaluating information is vital. It is important to evaluate carefully the sources you choose. Consider what you are looking for and why. When you have more credible sources, the more credible your argument.
You can use the:
- C.R.A.A.P Test
- The 5 Ws to ask questions about websites, books or articles.
When you research, you want to find the best information to support your ideas, discussions and arguments. This requires careful evaluation of the information you find.
It is important to evaluate information. This will ensure you:
- Discover the most relevant information for your topic and assignment
- To enhance the quality and reliability of your research
- Find expert views, opinions and peer-reviewed research on your topic
- To decipher and weed out biased, unreliable and incorrect information
Evaluating information will allow you to recognise and dismiss information that is: