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*Research Assistance - Getting Started: Evaluate Information

This guide is designed to assist students with general research techniques for using CCTC Library resources.

Library Databases or Open-Web Content

Library databases will lead you to resources evaluated by subject experts, publishing experts, faculty and librarians.  The library provides online tutorials to aid you with navigating the online collections.  The library offers in-person research assistance during open hours.

Public search engines on the open-Web are not geared to academic research, are not evaluated by experts, and in most cases no one is ensuring basic reliability. When using an open-Web resource you will need to decide if the information is from corporate opinion or valid research, if the statistics are valid data or invented, and decide if the opinion presented is well-founded or from propaganda.

The source for this content is The Little, Brown Handbook ©2016.

Questions for Evaluating Web Sites

Determine the type of site.  The main types are scholarly, informational, commercial, personal, or supported by an advocacy group.

Is the author or sponsor of the site credible?

What is the purpose of the site?

What is the bias of the site?

Is the site designed in an effective layout and error-free?

Is the information on the site supported by evidence from reliable sources and updated?

The source for this content is The Little, Brown Handbook ©2016.

Questions for Evaluating Sources

Relevance

Does the source focus on the subject and when was it published?

Reliability

What is the origin of the source?

Is the author an expert on the subject?

Does the source represent a well-rounded view on the subject or is it biased?

Is the source well written, logically organized, and error-free?

Does the author give evidence to support their claim?

Does the author give a bibliography of the sources used in their writing process?

The source for this content is The Little, Brown Handbook ©2016.