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Research Help

After completing your research, select which items to use in your paper. Evaluate the information based on its usefulness. Bear in mind that not all information is accurate, credible or timely.

Information found in your library and in library databases has been selected by library staff and other academic professionals, and usually comes from reliable sources. Still, it should be evaluated carefully. World Wide Web information varies from useful to simply wrong.

Evaluate this information using criteria like the CRAAP Test or the SIFT Test.

  • STOP before sharing/using the source.
  • Be aware of your emotional response.
    • What emotion(s) did you feel when you first read the story/claim/post?
  • Are you familiar with the source?
  • Does the source/website have an "About Us" or some other easy way of finding out about them?
  • What does Wikipedia say about the website/group/organization/author?
  • Look up the author/source.
  • What can you find out about them?
  • What is their mission? Do they have vested interests? Would their assessment be biased?
  • Do they have authority in this area?
  • Find better coverage or other sources that may or may not support the original claim.
  • Use fact-checking websites.
  • Use credible news sources, academic publications, government agencies, or expert organizations.
  • Trace claims, quotes, & media to their original context
  • Check links in bibliography if present
  • If an article uses a quote from an expert or study, find the original study/expert information
  • Click through any links to follow claims
  • Was the claim, quote, or media fairly represented?
  • Is information being cherry-picked to support an agenda?
  • Is information being taken out of context?