Evaluating Information Sources

Flashcards defining the five main criteria used to evaluate information sources: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.

Currency

The timeliness of information, which involves checking when it was published or posted, whether it is recent, if the topic requires current information, and if links are functional.

Relevance

The importance of the information, including whether it helps answer or develop a question, who the intended audience is, if it is written at an appropriate level, and if multiple sources were evaluated.

Authority

The source of the information, which considers the author, publisher, or sponsor, their credentials and qualifications, available contact information, and what the URL reveals.

Accuracy

The reliability of the information, determined by whether it is supported by evidence, reviewed or refereed, verifiable in other sources, and free of spelling, grammar, or typographical errors.

Purpose

The reason for the information, examining whether its goal is to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade, if intentions are clear, whether it is fact, opinion, or propaganda, and if the point of view is objective and impartial.