Analyzing Information Resources
As a library assistant you may be asked to help library patrons find appropriate resources for their project or assignment. It is important for you to be able to determine if an information source such as a book, periodical article, or a web site has relevant and reliable information. There are numerous factors to consider. Use the following criteria to evaluate the resource.
1. Author
What are the author's credentials. What is his/her educational background and experience. Has this author published any other works, either on-line or in print. Is the author an authority in this particular field? Have you seen the author's works cited (as references) in other sources or bibliographies?
This information is often included on the website. If not, you may need to do some investigative work. Try to find books or web pages about or by the same author by performing a search on the author’s name in a search tool. Be wary of what appears to be a legitimate author, organization, web site etc. The site and the information may indeed be false. If you are unable to find any information on a certain author, you may wish to question that person’s credibility.
The address of a website will also provide clues as to the reliability of the author. For example, .edu is an educational site, .gov is a government site, .com is a commercial site.
2. Date of Publication
A. Print Resources
When was your resource published? Is it current or out of date for your topic? Would you choose a book on the Soviet Union when researching information on Russia or Estonia. Subject areas such as natural or applied sciences experience rapid changes and become obsolete quickly. Even geography areas such as country information have evolved as boundaries, regimes, and country statistics change. Some countries have been created and some no longer exist (ie. Soviet Union, East and West Pakistan) in recent years. Historical interpretation and inclusion can change during the course of time. Generally speaking, literary studies tend to be as relevant now as when they were written.
B. Digital Resources
We cannot assume that information we find on-line is current. Some websites are updated regularly; others have not been maintained since they were first posted. Look for evidence of regular updates.
3. Publisher
Take note of the publisher. Is the publisher widely known and reputable?
4. Journal Title
If your resource is an article, is it in a scholarly journal, a popular periodical or magazine, or an obscure one? This is important to bear in mind due to specialization in research and commercial aims of the periodical.
5. Content Analysis
Conduct an examination of the source itself. Examine the preface or introduction to determine the author's intentions. Scan the table of contents and index to get an idea of what is covered. Skim through a chapter on your topic to determine suitability and relevancy. Examine the source's bibliographies or lack of for degree and depth of research. Is the coverage comprehensive or marginal? For web sites examine the web site’s URL. Look at the URL's root. Is it part of someone’s personal account or part of an official site? NOTE: A tilde (~) in the URL usually indicates a personal web page rather than an institutional web site. After deleting all the information in the URL after the web site’s domain name can you locate the URL of the originating organization.
6. Intended Audience
Who is the intended audience of the source. Is the target audience a general one, a specialized technical group, an advanced one, or is it for younger audiences. Is this source appropriate for your information needs?
7. Objectivity
Is the information covered objectively, are there overt biases, is it opinion based, or factual. Facts can usually be verified. Opinions require interpretation of facts. Can the information be validated, supported by evidence, and well researched? Regarding web sites look at the domain name.
.edu - educational institution (research to student pages)
.net - network provider (usually subscribing customers)
.gov - government agency (usually official government information)
.org - non-profit organization (may promote a specific point of view)
.com - commercial enterprise (may be trying to sell products)
For more information on evaluating information resources, click on the link below:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Evaluation.html
(Evaluation of Resources - University of California at Berkeley)
Sources:
http://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit09/sources09_02.phtml
1. Author
What are the author's credentials. What is his/her educational background and experience. Has this author published any other works, either on-line or in print. Is the author an authority in this particular field? Have you seen the author's works cited (as references) in other sources or bibliographies?
This information is often included on the website. If not, you may need to do some investigative work. Try to find books or web pages about or by the same author by performing a search on the author’s name in a search tool. Be wary of what appears to be a legitimate author, organization, web site etc. The site and the information may indeed be false. If you are unable to find any information on a certain author, you may wish to question that person’s credibility.
The address of a website will also provide clues as to the reliability of the author. For example, .edu is an educational site, .gov is a government site, .com is a commercial site.
2. Date of Publication
A. Print Resources
When was your resource published? Is it current or out of date for your topic? Would you choose a book on the Soviet Union when researching information on Russia or Estonia. Subject areas such as natural or applied sciences experience rapid changes and become obsolete quickly. Even geography areas such as country information have evolved as boundaries, regimes, and country statistics change. Some countries have been created and some no longer exist (ie. Soviet Union, East and West Pakistan) in recent years. Historical interpretation and inclusion can change during the course of time. Generally speaking, literary studies tend to be as relevant now as when they were written.
B. Digital Resources
We cannot assume that information we find on-line is current. Some websites are updated regularly; others have not been maintained since they were first posted. Look for evidence of regular updates.
3. Publisher
Take note of the publisher. Is the publisher widely known and reputable?
4. Journal Title
If your resource is an article, is it in a scholarly journal, a popular periodical or magazine, or an obscure one? This is important to bear in mind due to specialization in research and commercial aims of the periodical.
5. Content Analysis
Conduct an examination of the source itself. Examine the preface or introduction to determine the author's intentions. Scan the table of contents and index to get an idea of what is covered. Skim through a chapter on your topic to determine suitability and relevancy. Examine the source's bibliographies or lack of for degree and depth of research. Is the coverage comprehensive or marginal? For web sites examine the web site’s URL. Look at the URL's root. Is it part of someone’s personal account or part of an official site? NOTE: A tilde (~) in the URL usually indicates a personal web page rather than an institutional web site. After deleting all the information in the URL after the web site’s domain name can you locate the URL of the originating organization.
6. Intended Audience
Who is the intended audience of the source. Is the target audience a general one, a specialized technical group, an advanced one, or is it for younger audiences. Is this source appropriate for your information needs?
7. Objectivity
Is the information covered objectively, are there overt biases, is it opinion based, or factual. Facts can usually be verified. Opinions require interpretation of facts. Can the information be validated, supported by evidence, and well researched? Regarding web sites look at the domain name.
.edu - educational institution (research to student pages)
.net - network provider (usually subscribing customers)
.gov - government agency (usually official government information)
.org - non-profit organization (may promote a specific point of view)
.com - commercial enterprise (may be trying to sell products)
For more information on evaluating information resources, click on the link below:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Evaluation.html
(Evaluation of Resources - University of California at Berkeley)
Sources:
http://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit09/sources09_02.phtml