Step 5: Analyze and evaluate the results

Assessing if information fits your question

When you are checking the relevance of the results of your search, two aspects are important to monitor:

1. Does the result  fit with the information need that you have? For instance: someone who is making a presentation for high school students, doesn't really need a dissertation as an information source. A dissertation will word the information on a different level than the high school students would understand. A different example: you don't want to find a VHS tape if you know you only have access to a DVD player.

2. Is the source reliable? How objective does the result look? Did an expert write it? Does it have references? If so, do those references come to the same conclusion? 

To make a good selection from the results, you will have to be able to judge the quality and relevance of the results. There are different reasons why some sources are a good choice, and others aren't. An article might be biased because the writer is writing from a certain perspective, religion or commercial advantage, etc.

That's why it is important to use various results and to compare the conclusions.

To assess a source, ask yourself the following questions:

Currency: the timeliness of the information.

• When was the information published or posted? Revises or updated?
• Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well??

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs.

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Who is the intended audience? An appropriate level?

Authority: the source of the information.

• Who is the author / publisher / source / sponsor?
• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is the author qualified to write on the topic? Is there contact information?

Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.

• Where does the information come from? / supported by evidence?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
• Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?

Purpose: the reason the information exists.

• What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, religious, institutional or personal biases?

Based on https://library.csuchico.edu/sites/default/files/craap-test.pdf