Evaluating Information

Welcome to Tisch Library's guide to evaluating information. This guide includes helpful tips for evaluating articles, books, websites, and any other type of information no matter where you find it. And remember, it's not always easy to determine whether the information you find is true or false. Instead, think about evaluating your sources with these concepts in mind:

• There are different types of authority, such as subject expertise (e.g., scholarship), societal position (e.g., public office or title), or special experience (e.g., participating in a historic event);
• You can use research tools and indicators of authority to determine the credibility of sources and understand the elements that might limit a source's credibility;
• You should understand that many disciplines have acknowledged authorities in the sense of well-known scholars and publications that are widely considered “standard,” and yet, even in those situations, some scholars would challenge the authority of those sources;
• Authoritative content may be packaged formally or informally and may include sources of all media types.

What does it mean for a source to be credible? Why is it important to use these sources? How can you tell if a source is credible? (Courtesy of North Carolina State University Libraries)