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.

The CLEAR evaluating tool is one method that can help you evaluate the quality and appropriateness of your information sources by checking your source following a set of criteria.

Use the C.L.E.A.R. method:

Developed and created by the librarians at SUNY Brockport Drake Memorial Library, this new tool offers a concise way to assess and evaluate sources that students use by asking key questions related to each criteria:

• Credibility - Is the author qualified and an expert in the subject matter?  Are the methods used to collect data transparent?
• Language -  Is the language clear and concise?  Are there any misspellings or grammatical errors?
• Evidence - What types of evidence are provided? Ex. statistics, references or case studies.  Does the evidence support or contradict the information? If so, is there any acknowledgment?
• Audience - Does the style engage or lean to the biases of its audience? Are the audience’s questions and concerns addressed?
• Relevance -Is it relevant to the current time and circumstances?  Does the information add value to your understanding?