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Evaluate Your Sources

Evaluating the quality and the credibility of the information you find is a crucial step in the research process. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, multimedia titles, or webpages are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item, a physical item in hand, or an electronic version on a computer. Use one or more of the methods outlined below to carefully evaluate the sources that you find.

The TRAAP Test

 

TIMELINESS: The "newness" of the information

  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Have there been new versions or editions since this was published?
  • How quickly does new research for this topic come out?
  • Does new research expand upon or replace old information for this topic?

BOTTOM LINE: Does this offer appropriately current or historical information?

 

RELEVANCE: Does the information matter?

  • Does the information help you accomplish the purpose of your work/paper? Does this easily relate to your topic?
  • Does this source meet all your information needs or assignment requirements?
  • Is this source written at an appropriate level for your intended audience?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources? why is this source better than others?

BOTTOM LINE: Is this a source that adds value to your work? why is it worth including?

 

AUTHORITY: Who is the author? Who is the publisher?

  • What is their educational or professional background? What expertise do they have with this subject?
  • Where are they from? Where are they living now?
  • What political party do they belong to?
  • What organizations or causes do they support?
  • Can you see any bias in their work?

BOTTOM LINE: Can you trust this author and publisher to know what they are talking about?

 

ACCURACY: Is this information correct and reliable?

  • When were the sources published? Are they current or outdated?
  • Do the sources come from trustworthy authors or publishers?
  • If the source is based on original research, what methods were used to collect the data or information?
  • What is the sample size or population of the study? Is it large enough to be representative?
  • Are there any obvious weaknesses in the way data or information was gathered or analyzed?
  • Does the author provide adequate support for their conclusions?
  • Are sources listed or cited in the text?

BOTTOM LINE: Can you trust that this information is truthful?

 

PURPOSE: What are the intentions behind this information?

  • Is the information meant to entertain? Inform? Educate? Persuade? Sell?
  • Is the source populated with advertisements or photographs?
  • Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
  • Do the authors or publishers make their intentions clear
  • Is there evidence of bias: political, cultural, religious, ideological, personal?

BOTTOM LINE: Is this source objective and impartial or is it influenced by bias or hidden agendas?