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Research Process

The most important part of evaluation is that you ARE evaluating sources. The method itself isn't as important, though different methods will work better for different sources, disciplines, purposes, and people. The ones listed here are some common methods, not the only ones.

The Continuum of Credibility focuses on publication source but can be adapted for other factors, too, such as relevance of the topic to your purpose; the author's credentials; or the reason the work was created.

A continuum with types of resources for each section. It starts with blogs and personal websites on the Very Skeptical end, moves to publications from advocacy groups, daily news, general audience books, high quality mainstream media, books by experts from non-academic publishers, and some government websites in the middle, and ends with peer reviewed journals and books by experts from academic publishers on the Much Less Skeptical end.

In the CRAAP test, one looks at various factors to determine the source's appropriateness for use in an academic paper:

Currency
When was it published?

Relevance
Is it an appropriate level?
Does the information relate to your topic?

Authority
Who is the creator? 
What are their qualifications on the topic?

Accuracy
Has it been reviewed or vetted?
Is it supported by evidence?

Purpose
What is the purpose of it? Inform? Critique?
Are there biases in it?

Similar to the CRAAP test, ABCD looks at various factors to determine the source's appropriateness for use in an academic paper:

Authority

  • Who are the creators? What are their credentials?
  • Who is the publisher? Are they reputable?


Bias

  • Is this fact or opinion?
  • Can you still use the information, even if there is bias?
  • Is the site trying to sell you something, convert you, or make you vote for someone?


Content

  • What kind of information is included? Is it primarily opinion? A mix of fact and opinion?
  • What is the purpose? What’s the level of the information? Is it for entertainment, for a serious audience?
  • Are sources cited?


Date

  • How recent is the information?
  • Is it current enough for your topic?
  • If the information is from a website, when was the site last updated?

This video by Crash Course outlines Lateral Reading as an evaluation method for online sources, particularly websites, instead of using checklists, like the CRAAP test. Lateral Reading is the method used by professional fact-checkers.