1. Information Literacy Program Critically Evaluating
Emalus Campus
Information Literacy Program
Module 4
Critically Evaluating
Information Sources

2. Other ILP Modules
Emalus Campus
Module 1: Resources the Emalus Campus Library
Module 2: Accessing the Library Website & Using the Online Catalogue
Module 3: Untangle the Web: Finding Information on the Internet
Module 4: Critically Evaluating Information Sources
Module 5: Literature Search, Citing Sources & the Bibliography
Module 6: Searching ProQuest

3. Learning Objective
Emalus Campus
to provide students with a set of criteria for evaluating information sources

4. Learning Outcomes
Emalus Campus
At the end of this session, students should be able to:
understand the four criteria for evaluating information sources
apply these four criteria when evaluating information sources

5. Why Evaluate Information
Emalus Campus
every source of information incorporates the perspective or bias of its authors
instead of automatically accepting information at face value, you should always critically evaluate information obtained from any source

6. Criteria to Evaluate Information
Emalus Campus
CARS is an acronym to help you remember the five categories for evaluating information sources:
Credibility
Accuracy
Reasonableness
Support
Jowitt, Anita (2006) Legal Referencing. University of the South Pacific School of Law.

7. Credibility are the author’s qualifications presented?
Emalus Campus
are the author’s qualifications presented?
does the author have expertise related to
the topic?
is the author affiliated with an educational
institution or other reputable organisation
Is the information checked by anyone else (e.g. peer-reviewed journals)

8. Accuracy What purpose has it been written for?
Emalus Campus
What purpose has it been written for?
Is the information sufficiently current for
your purpose?
Does it cover the right time period?
Does it cover the right geographic area?
Does the information appear to be complete
Is the information still accurate regardless of the date?

9. Reasonableness
Emalus Campus
Does the sources balance different perspectives on the issue
(Is it free from overt bias?)
Is the information presented fact or opinion?
Does the source use emotive reasoning to for its argument
Does the content make exaggerated claims which it does not support

10. Support Is supporting evidence provided?
Emalus Campus
Is supporting evidence provided?
Is the information supported by footnotes or references?
Can its accuracy be verified by independent sources?

11. Evaluating Websites Look at the URL
Emalus Campus
Look at the URL
Scan the top and bottom of the page to find author, organization, date last updated
Look for indicators of quality
Sources documented
Bias
Links to additional resources
What do others say?

12. Evaluating Websites
Emalus Campus

13. Information Online is vulnerable to:
Emalus Campus
unauthorised changes
updates: this problem especially applies to conference / working papers online – what you see today may not be what you access tomorrow

14. Final Advice on Evaluating Information
Emalus Campus
read a wide range of sources
do not automatically accept information
check author’s credentials and qualifications
check for bias
check for date of publication (currency)