Use
these questions to determine if your source of information (print
or online) is a high quality resource for your research.
More
"yes" answers will yield a higher quality of information.
Accuracy:
1) Are original sources clear and documented?
2) Is a bibliography provided citing the sources used?
Authority:
1) Is it clear who is responsible for the information?
2) Are the author's qualifications for writing on this topic
clearly stated?
3) Is there a means to contact the author for more information
(address, email, web site)?
Objectivity:
1) Is the information objective or subjective, fact or opinion?
2) Does it reflect bias? How?
3) Is a balance of perspectives represented?
4) Could the information be construed as humorous, a parody,
or satire?
Relevance:
1) Is the information helpful or useful?
2) Is the information too broad or too narrow to answer your
question or provide information?
Reliability:
1) Does the information come from a school, business, personal,
or professional source?
2) What's the purpose of the information resource: to inform,
instruct, persuade, entertain, or sell? What's their motive?
Timeliness:
1) Does the currency of information matter with the particular
topic?
2) How current are the sources, copyright dates, and links (web
sites)?
N. Mellendorf,
2004. Adapted from the Information Literacy Toolkit, Maine Township
High School District #207 Information Literacy Committee, 2002.
