Picture: Ranjith Siji Pixabay.com

Evaluating information is part of information literacy

A wide range of knowledge acquisition skills and critical evaluation of sources are essential for working life, because:

reliable sources are part of the credibility of your expertise
digital information is growing rapidly and anyone can publish on the open web
=> some information is misleading, either intentionally (disinformation) or unintentionally (misinformation)

Criteria for evaluating data sources

Picture: Marc and Peggy Lachman Pixabay.com

The assessment criteria apply to both printed and electronic sources.

Is the information producer a well-known expert, agency or organization?
What is the author's background organization or community, and what is their perspective on the subject?
Is the author an authority on the subject?
Who published or sponsored the research or publication? Is it a reliable agent?
Does the URL of the website show who is the author of the information?
Does the website contain the e-mail address or other contact details of the author or organization?

Information is thoroughly researched, objective and reliable
Does the material contain a list of sources and are references indicated in the text?
The information is verifiable. Sources that have been cited could be contacted for confirmation
The Internet material has been verified by a third party such as a publisher, editor or peer reviewer

Why has the data been produced: what is the purpose and scientific aim of its production?
Is the content of the text objective or subjective?
Is the information factual or is it the author's own personal view?
Is the material carefully formulated and does the language used correspond to the known terminology of the subject?
Is the information unique or can similar or perhaps better information be found elsewhere?
It is important to distinguish between web pages that contain factual information from those that are assertions/discussions, opinions or propaganda, etc.

Have different perspectives on the subject been taken into account?
How comprehensive is the information?
How detailed is the information produced? Is the information limited to certain periods?

Contemporality