INTRODUCTION
You can begin evaluating a physical information source (a book or an article for instance) even before you have the
physical item in hand. Appraise a source by first examining the bibliographic citation. The bibliographic citation is the written
description of a book, journal article, essay, or some other published material that appears in a catalog or index. Bibliographic
citations characteristically have three main components: author, title, and publication information. (In the same way, you can
appraise a Web site by examining the home page carefully.)
I. INITIAL APPRAISAL
A. Author
- What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation (where he or she works), educational background, past
writings, or experience? Is the book or article written on a topic in the author's area of expertise? Use the various Who's
Who publications or use online sources. to help determine the author's affiliation and credentials.
- What other works had the author written? Search catalogs or databases. Have you seen the author's name cited in
other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars. For this reason, always note those
names that appear in many different sources.
- Is the author associated with a reputable institution or organization? What are the basic values or goals of the
organization or institution?
B. Date of Publication
- When was the source published? This date is often located on the face of the title page below the name of the
publisher. If it is not there, look for the copyright date on the reverse of the title page. On Web pages, the date of the last
revision is usually at the bottom of the home page, sometimes every page.
- Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Topic areas of continuing and rapid development, such as the
sciences, demand more current information. On the other hand, topics in the humanities often require material that was written
many years ago.
C. Edition or Revision
Is this a first edition of this publication or not? Further editions indicate a source has been revised and
updated to reflect changes in knowledge, include omissions, and harmonize with its intended reader's needs. Also, many printings
or editions may indicate that the work has become a standard source in the area and is reliable. If you are using a Web source,
do the pages indicate revision dates?
D. PublisherNote the publisher. If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly. Although the
fact that the publisher is reputable does not necessarily guarantee quality, it does show that the publisher may have high regard
for the source being published.
E. Title of Journal Is this a scholarly or a popular journal? This
distinction is important because it indicates different levels of complexity in conveying ideas. If you need help in determining
the type of journal, see What is the difference between a scholarly journal and a magazine? Journal articles have bibliographies or substantive notes, among other criteria. To
determine the viewpoint represented for commentary and opinion magazines, see Commentary and Opinion Journals
II. CONTENT ANALYSIS
Having made an initial appraisal, you should now examine the body of the source. Read the preface to determine the
author's intentions for the book. Scan the table of contents and the index to get a broad overview of the material it covers.
Note whether bibliographies are included. Read the chapters that specifically address your topic. Scanning the table of contents
of a journal or magazine issue is also useful. As with books, the presence and quality of a bibliography at the end of the
article may reflect the care with which the authors have prepared their work.
A. Intended Audience
What type of audience is the author addressing? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience? Is
this source too elementary, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs? B. Objective Reasoning
- Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? Facts can usually be verified; opinions, though they may
be based on factual information, evolve from the interpretation of facts. Skilled writers can make you think their
interpretations are facts.
- Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence?
Note errors or omissions.
- Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line with other works you have read on the same topic? The
more radically an author departs from the views of others in the same field, the more carefully and critically you should
scrutinize his or her ideas.
- Is the author's point of view objective and impartial? Is the language free of emotion-arousing words and
bias?
C. Coverage
- Does the work update other sources, substantiate other materials you have read, or add new information? Does it
extensively or marginally cover your topic?
- Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Primary sources are the raw material of the research process.
Secondary sources are based on primary sources. Scholars use this primary material to help generate historical interpretations--a
secondary source. In the sciences, journal articles and conference proceedings written by experimenters reporting the results of
their research are primary documents. Choose both primary and secondary sources when you have the opportunity.
D. Writing Style Is the publication organized logically? Are the main
points clearly presented? Do you find the text easy to read, or is it stilted or choppy? Is the author's argument
repetitive?E. Evaluative Reviews
- Locate critical reviews of books in a
reviewing source, such as Book Review Index OR EBSCO
Search. Is the review positive? Is the book under review
considered a valuable contribution to the field? Does the reviewer mention other books that might be better? If so, locate these
sources for more information on your topic.
- See "Tips for Finding Book Reviews"
- Do the various reviewers agree on the value or attributes of the book or has it aroused controversy among the
critics?
F. Web Sites
- For Web sites, also see "The CRAAP test".
Learning how to determine the relevance and authority of a given resource for your research is one of the
core skills of the research process. For more assistance with the research process, consult your instructor or a reference
librarian. |
