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Gateway Campus Library

Library Instruction Class

CLEAR Evaluation Method

Credibility of the information:

Is the information current?

Is the author qualified and an expert in the subject matter?

Are the methods used to collect data transparent?

What is the purpose?

Is there bias?

Language:

Is the language clear and concise?

Are there any misspellings or grammatical errors?

Is the tone appropriate for the audience?

Is the language too complex for the audience to understands?

 

Evidence:

What types of evidence are provided? (Ex. statistics, references, or case studies) 

Does the evidence support or contradict the information? If soo, is there any acknowledgement?

How is evidence presented? Are there charts, graphs, or tables that support or mislead the information?

Audience:

Is the content appropriate for the intended audience?

Does it address the needs or interests of its target audience?

Does the style engage or lean to the biases of the audience?

Are the audience's questions and concerns addressed?

Relevance:

Does the information align with your needs?

Is it relevant to the current time and circumstances?

Does the information add value to your understanding?

Does it help you make informed decisions or enhance your knowledge?

Evaluating Sources

When evaluating materials found online there are a number of things to consider before taking the information as 'fact'. Using the CLEAR Method lets look at some different scenarios: 

 

A magazine article about the importance of healthy bacteria in the gut, ads throughout for a green powder guarantees a healthier gut in 30 days or less. They reference celebrity doctors, but do not include a Works Cited
Trust: 0 votes (0%)
Trash: 6 votes (100%)
Total Votes: 6

 

You see a news story about a social media platform getting banned in the United States. How do you continue researching?
Look at a variety of media outlets about this topic: 0 votes (0%)
Look through more articles on the same media outlet: 0 votes (0%)
Look into government websites about the social media app: 5 votes (100%)
Total Votes: 5

 

Your friend on Facebook is a chemist working in a lab, and excitedly shares their newly published work in The New England Journal of Medicine, an article about STEM Cell research, published January of 2024
Trust: 2 votes (100%)
Trash: 0 votes (0%)
Total Votes: 2