This is a learning module for a decision-based learning app

1. JUDGING RELEVANCE
BASED ON CREDIBILITY

2. Definition:
• Relevance:
• Refers to how well the item meets an information need
• Concerns aspects of relationship to the matter at hand or practicality a
• A decision on relevance is often not binary, but may instead be one of degree
• For example, an article may be marginally relevant or highly relevant, depending on need
• In judging relevance you must first understand the purpose behind your
information search
a “Relevance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/relevance.

3. Credibility of Information:
• Information must be credible to be relevant:
• Credibility can be judged by looking at the author’s credentials, the process
used to publish it, and the response of the knowledge community to the new
knowledge
• Several aids are available for judging credibility, such as peer review, but these
should not be considered as go/no-go criteria
• Ultimately researchers must judge for themselves whether a work is credible
in the context of their information need

4. Where to Find Info Relating to Credibility:
• Database Record:
• Review Source to
determine level of review
prior to publication (peer
review is gold standard)
• Review Publisher to
understand levels of
industry respect and
possible bias
• Review Author Affiliations
to understand more
about author credentials
and possible bias
[Record on right from Compendex]

5. Where to Find Info Relating to Credibility:
• Ulrichsweb: See https://ulrichsweb-serialssolutions-com.erl.lib.byu.edu/
(Referee’s shirt indicates which journals are peer reviewed)
NOTE: this only speaks to the process of publication and not necessarily to the relevance or credibility of
the work. Some non-peer-reviewed sources such as conference papers do provide credible information.

6. Where to Find Info Relating to Credibility:
• Journal Metrics:
• Journal metrics are one
way, albeit indirect, to
measure the response of
the information community
to the journal in which an
article is published – they
give a sense for the prestige
the journal has built in the
community
[Record on right from Scopus – see by clicking on the name
of the journal from within the database record for the
article you find]

7. Where to Find Info Relating to Credibility:
• Sections of the Paper:
• Methods – a detailed look at how data was gathered and processed – look for a
thoughtful and thorough approach (this section is not always labeled as “Methods”)
• Results & Conclusions – watch for consistency between results and conclusions,
particularly that conclusions don’t overstep what is supported by data

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