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Use this guide to help you determine how to evaluate information, design a strategy for your topic of interest, learn how to research effectively, and cite your work.
Evaluating Information Sources and Research Skills
Although it is best to search in your LIRN Library databases, you may also find yourself researching via the web at times. Rule of thumb: Use your Library research databases through LIRN.
Our main digital collection called the Library and Information Resources Network (LIRN) holds our main research databases, and supplemental learning materials, for all programs and subjects. Through LIRN, we subscribe to millions of peer-reviewed, full-text journals, magazines, newspaper articles, e-books, podcasts, audio, video resources, and more.
Do you want to also use the Internet/Web. See below for ways to evaluate your findings.
Examples of sources that are often the most credible:
- Library (LIRN) Databases
- Official government websites
- Institutional sites that represent universities, regulatory agencies, governing bodies, and
- respected organizations with specific expertise (e.g., the Mayo Clinic)
- Peer-reviewed journals
- Reputable news sources
Examples of sources that are often considered less credible:
- Blogs
- Web forums
- Individual or business websites
- Materials published by an entity that may have an ulterior motive
Is It CRAAP?
Make sure that any information resource (books, research reports, websites, newspaper articles, etc.) you use for an assignment passes the CRAAP test:
Currency: When was this information produced?
Relevance: Is the information important to your topic?
Authority: Who is the source?
Accuracy: How reliable is the information?
Purpose: Why was the information produced?
If you are unsure, look at this expanded list of questions to determine the value of your information resource.
This is a self-paced, non-credit course that covers research skills, critical thinking, media and internet literacy, and understanding the complexities of the modern information environment (including libraries.)
Click here to get started.
