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FYS--First Year Seminar (Fall 2024)

Information for students about Library support for FYS

There are many different source types to choose from when doing research. However, no matter the source type, the evaluation process is the same.

Common source types:

  • Academic journals & articles (written by experts or researchers in the discipline)
  • Books / eBooks (written by anyone)
  • Reference materials (i.e. encyclopedias, almanacs, dictionaries)
  • Newspapers and Magazines (written by journalists)
  • Websites, Videos, Media (written by anyone)
  • Images (i.e. charts, pictures, infographics)
  • Data & Statistics (usually affiliated with organizations, research studies, etc.)

Watch the video below to learn more about these types of sources, including their benefits and drawbacks.

Just because something is available online, that doesn’t mean it is a website.  Online subscription databases like those from EBSCO or JSTOR are available because the library has paid to have online access to their materials, which is helpful for students and researchers trying to access scholarly content. On the open web, information is freely available, but anyone can create and host a site without any regulation, and some sites employ crowd source editing, which can be edited by anyone, such as Wikipedia.

When evaluating sources, go beyond the source (Google it!) and keep these five things in mind as you employ vertical (evaluating the source itself) and lateral reading (checking the accuracy of the source by consulting other sources of information). See the video below to learn more about these methods of evaluating sources.

Currency

Relevance

Authority
  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Has the information been revised or updated?
  • Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
  • Are the links functional?
  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information at an  appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining  this is one you will use?
  • Would you be comfortable citing this source in your  research paper?
  • Who is the author, publisher, and source/sponsor?
  • What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
  • Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
  • Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
  • Does the URL (.com, .edu, .gov, .org, .net) reveal anything about the author or source?

Accuracy

Purpose

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
  • Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
  • Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
  • What is the purpose of the information?
  • Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
  • Do the authors/sponsors make their  intentions or purpose clear?
  • Is the  information fact, opinion or propaganda?
  • Does the point of view appear objective  and impartial?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural religious, institutional  or personal biases?

Source: CRAAP Test, created by

Meriam Library at California

State University, Chico

Watch the video below to learn how to determine if a source is credible.