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Evaluating Stuff 2015
This document discusses how to evaluate information sources for assignments. It provides tips for identifying key areas of evaluation like bias and perspective. The learning outcomes are to be able to evaluate sources and explain the effect of bias. It defines evaluation and discusses a hierarchy of source types from peer-reviewed journals to blogs. It suggests asking questions about a source's intended audience, publication details, format, date, author's motivation and relevance to the assignment. Evaluation methods like CRAAP and warning signs of less credible sources are outlined. The document advises balancing any biased or dated sources with alternative perspectives.
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Evaluating Stuff 2015
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- 2. By the endof this session, you should: • Be able to identify key areas for evaluating the sources you find • Recognise and be able to explain the effect which bias and perspective has on information sources Learning Outcomes
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- 4. Evaluation Evaluation is: • “Tofind out or state the value of, to assess” – Oxford Study Dictionary • “Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of something” – Collins School Dictionary • A systematic determination of a subject's merit, worth and significance • Required to get higher marks in your assignments
- 5. More appropriate Less appropriate Peer-reviewed journal Respectedmagazine Regularly-published magazine Website/blog Peer-reviewed Respected author Named author Anonymous author Hierarchy of sources
- 6. • Who wasit written for? – Level of text (GCSE, Degree-level, Specialist) • Where was it published? – A US source may not have the correct information for a UK essay • What format is it in? – An article in Vogue carries more weight than a post on TMZ • When was it written? – You generally need up-to-date information for it to be accurate • Why did they write it? – Bias or involvement in events affects an author’s version of the facts • HoW is it useful for your assignment? – Regardless of how good it is, a source must support your work, not the other way around The 6 W’s of evaluation
- 7. CRAAP Evaluation There arelots of different ways to approach evaluation of information sources. One option is CRAAP. • Currency, or timeliness, of information • Relevance and importance to you • Authority of the information source • Accuracy of information provided • Purpose the information exists for
- 8. • Anonymous authors •Bias or opinion in the information given • Unsupported or out-of-date information • Heavy usage of non-academic style • Populist, sensational or commercial motivations This applies to magazines as well as certain websites… Warning signs
- 9. You can stillmake use a source if you have concerns after evaluating it. However, you should make clear these concerns, and offer balance wherever possible: • If a source appears biased, look for evidence presented from an alternate viewpoint • If a source is dated, make this clear and look for supporting evidence that is more current • If a source was written for a distinct audience, emphasise this and look for other perspectives Balancing sources
- 10. Model: LearnHigher Image credit: . Universityof Leeds . Evaluative Questioning