The document discusses evaluating different types of information sources for college-level research. It covers periodical sources like scholarly journals, trade publications, popular magazines, and newspapers. It also discusses evaluating websites and detecting bias, confirmation bias, and fake news. The key aspects discussed are developing the skill to evaluate sources critically, using the CRAAP test to assess currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose of sources.

1. Evaluating Sources of Information
Information is everywhere –
but not all of it is reliable or appropriate for college level research!
Evaluating sources is a SKILL that you must develop, not only as a
student, but for life as a professional in your chosen field, AND a
responsible citizen of the world.

2. Source Types: Periodicals
For your research and college assignments, you will usually be looking
for articles. The main sources for articles (print or online) are:
You may find articles on the open web, but the Library databases are
the best place to search for full-text (and free) articles.
Scholarly journals
Trade Publications
Popular Magazines
Newspapers

3. Source Types: Scholarly Journals
 content written by scholars, researchers, professionals
 articles are often peer-reviewed before publication
 articles have very specific subject focus
 contain original research, or a response to original research
 include full documentation/ references
 have straight-forward titles, plain covers

4. Source Types: Popular Magazines
 content written by reporters, free-lance journalists
content approved by magazine editor (not peer-reviewed)
 articles written for the general public
 main purpose is to entertain, inform, or promote viewpoint
 do not contain original research or references
 have colourful, eye-catching covers

5. Source Types: Trade Journals
 written by and for professionals in a specific trade or industry
 often published by a professional association
content approved by editor (not peer reviewed)
 update readers on current information and trends in that field

6. Evaluating Sources of Information
Use the CRAAP test to evaluate any materials:
• Currency
• When was it published/posted?
• Relevance
• Does it relate to your topic?
• Authority
• Is the author an expert? Who is the publisher?
• Accuracy
• Is the information supported by evidence? Are the references accurately represented?
• Purpose
• Why is the information there: to inform, teach, sell, entertain, persuade?

7. EVALUATING WEBSITES
Many types of websites may have useful information for you. Be aware
of what type of website you are viewing! Some examples include:
• Corporate & Business sites promote and sell their product/service
• Advocacy sites promote their cause or point of view
• Government sites inform citizens
• Professional associations
• Individuals’ websites (blogs, opinions, portfolios)

8. EVALUATING WEBSITES
• What can the URL tell you?
• Check: About Us / Author Credentials/ Contact link
• Date created, date revised/updated?
• Are references included? Are they accurately represented?
• Well-written? Professional? Non-biased language?
• Other content on the site: articles, advertisements?
• Purpose of the website – to sell, persuade, inform, or to fool you?
Source: UC Berkeley Library

9. Bias in NEWS MEDIA
Many mainstream news media are owned by corporations, or are dependent on advertising revenue;
therefore they have a vested interest in promoting certain views and pleasing certain demographic groups…
Some signs of Bias:
• Omitting information, only presenting one side of an issue
• Facts, statistics & quotes taken out of context or interpreted narrowly
• Using sensationalism and extreme language to provoke emotions
• Name-calling, unflattering pictures
• Misleading headlines
• Double-standards on lines of race, gender and class
• Stating opinions as facts
Sources:
FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting)
University of Washington Libraries

10. Confirmation Bias
The tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing
beliefs or hypotheses, while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative possibilities.1
Ways to Combat:
• Re-read the article from an opposite viewpoint
• Try to interpret facts & statistics in a different way
• Seek out the referenced articles to see if they are being misrepresented
• Find another article with an opposite viewpoint
• Consider the source
Sources:
1. Plous, Scott (1993). The Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making. p. 233

11. What is FAKE NEWS?
Fake news is made-up, false information packaged and shared as real
news. Fake news:
• Presents 'facts' that can not be verified, and may be hard to find
anywhere else
• Is usually created to advance a political agenda, for profit, mischief, or
attention-seeking
• Appeals to emotions, hoping you'll be scared or angry enough to
share without checking
• Is usually created by people who are not experts on the topic or even
journalists

12. Detecting Fake News
• Use the CRAAP test
• Examine the URL: fake news sites will mimic the look of a real news
site, but the web address will contain clues. Watch for blogging urls,
or unusual domain extensions like '.com.co'.
• Check the 'About Us' and 'Contact' pages
• Take a look at the other articles, ads and content on the site
• Do a web search with the name of the site and keyword 'fake‘
• Fact-check quotations and statistics – are they represented
accurately?
• Don’t share fake news!

13. Fact Checking
• FactsCan
• In the News - Statistics Canada
• Politifact.com
• SciCheck
• Snopes.com
• Google Images Reverse Lookup
• TinEye Reverse Image Search
• First Draft News techniques for fact checking, image checking & more
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