LibAnswers

A simple way to evaluate a source is to look out for TRAAPS!  This acronym can remind you of good questions to ask.  You can use these in any order.  If a source doesn’t satisfy one of the criteria, you can move on to find another one that does!

T: Timely

Sometimes you want historical information.  Other times, you need the most current knowledge on a topic.  In science and medicine, new discoveries, medications, and practices are important to keep up-to-date.  Some information, like the number of bones in a human arm, stay consistent.  In literature, you may wish to research the history of the time period in which the book was written.  Make sure you are using the right timeframe of information for your research needs.

R: Relevant

A source may have good, trustworthy information, but it might not be right for your research need.  If you are researching the cost of a product, then the company that produces it will have accurate information and serve as a good source.  But if you need to discover the impact of a product on health, then look for research sources without a potential conflict of interest to get the best perspective.

Articles are also written to a particular audience.  An introductory article will be accessible to the general population, but an expert will need a depth of understanding to do their work well.

The type of research you need for the situation is an important factor when choosing the best information source.

A: Accuracy

Obvious mistakes could suggest a lack of careful attention, hurried writing, or absence of content review.  Consider: Was this fact-checked?  Did a second person review the information before it was posted?  Is there another source that supports this statement?  We’re all human, and mistakes happen, but you don’t want to base your conclusions on inaccurate content.

If you notice mention of “a study” or “research shows,” but no further information is provided on which study or research is being referred to, use a different source!  Make sure to use the best information you can.  Failure to cite or link to underlying sources is sloppy at best and could be suspicious too.

A: Authority

Who wrote/published the information, and what is the reason that you trust them? 

Take a look at the author, publisher (or website), and research/sources cited.  If you find an article on an incoming asteroid, is the announcement posted by NASA or on a blog with a history of doomsday predictions?  What kind of research has been cited?

Reputable organizations, journals, & book publishers help us to know that the information was likely reviewed or fact-checked before publication.  Authors with education, training, or first-hand experience matching the subject matter provide us assurance that they have good knowledge on the topic. 

When learning about a culture, religion, or similar subject, it is best to learn directly from an author belonging to the group.  They will have a depth of understanding behind the what’s and why’s of their beliefs and practices. 

P: Purpose

If someone took time to write, record, or produce a work, what was their motivation for doing so?  What do they hope to accomplish?

Here are a few examples of purpose: to persuade (such as a political cause), to gain (commercial/monetary objective), to educate or inform, to describe, to criticize, or to entertain.

How can you discover the purpose of a work?  Professionally-produced journal articles and books will often provide this information in their introductions.  But website content can take a bit more work as the reader may need to look deeper for its purpose.  Here are a few tips:

• Understand the types of websites.  The website URL can be a useful place to start (.gov, .org, .edu, .com).
• Read the “About Us” page, as well as any disclaimers.
• Research the organization or author beyond their website.  This technique is known as “lateral reading” because you are looking across multiple sources / internet tabs to learn about the organization/author.  (Use only reputable sources – avoid unfounded gossip or slanderous articles.) 

S: (Other) Sources

When you research, check more than one source to make sure you are getting factual information & the full picture. 

The first source you read will often be convincing, but so will the second one!  It’s important in research to obtain sufficient information so you can confidently make a good decision that weighs all the factors.