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WRPR 119 Brown v. Board at 70: Unfulfilled Promises & Unfinished Activisms for Education Equity

How to Evaluate Your Sources

Evaluate your sources for RELEVANCE and CREDIBILITY 

RELEVANCE: Are your sources useful to you?

  • Skim and scan the research material 
    • Does the source look like it makes sense for your topic?
    • If so, jot down the main facts, ideas, and concepts related to your topic
      • Notice the patterns in your research material
        • Are the same ideas, themes, and topics repeated in different sources?
          • These are the most important pieces of your topic,
          • They represent the main points, secondary points, and boundaries of the subject
          • They help you identify the major components of your topic
          • They help you identify most common thoughts and beliefs.
  • Look at different perspectives on your topic
    • At this point you've probably formed your own thoughts about your topic and you have the sources to support it.
    • Next, look for sources that show another perspective.
      • This is a hugely important step!
        • Knowing and understanding other perspectives
          • Provides the complete picture of the issue.
          • Avoids confirmation bias and demonstrates objectivity about the issue
          • Ensures you understand your perspective is not the only one. Confirmation bias
          • Shows the validity of your own beliefs
          • Shows you understand why others may have different ideas

CREDIBILITY:  Notice the 3 methods for evaluation sources listed on this page all ask similar questions:

  • What are the author's credentials? Are they qualified to write about your topic?
  • Is the author biased a certain way? Are they a member of a strongly-leaning group or organization?
  • What year was the article or source published? Is it still relevant today? Does it provide the most up-to-date information?
  • How reliable is the source? Is it from a reputable author or publisher? If it's a book, university presses are reputable sources. Do you recognize the author's name; if not, are there credentials (their job title or academic rank) that tell you about the author's expertise?
  • How useful is the source in helping you address your topic?
  • Is it scholarly? Does your assignment require you to use only scholarly sources?

CRAAP Test

Does Your Test Pass the C.R.A.A.P. Test ?
When you search for information, you're going to find lots of it . . . but is it good information? You will have to determine that for yourself, and the C.R.A.A.P. Test can help. The C.R.A.A.P Test is a list of questions to help you evaluate the information you find. Different criteria will be more or less important depending on your situation or need.