MREST Evaluating Information Flashcards
Why is the evaluation of information a critical skill?
It’s important to know the quality of information
What is one way to evaluate information?
Checking it’s authority
Why are scholarly sources better than popular sources (like websites)
Scholarly sources are written by experts in their fields
What are other important things to check for as far as authority is concerned?
Other books the authors write and what they’re about, as well as where they’re published
What are some ways to check for information’s accuracy?
Look at the publication date, examining the works cited, and consider the research methods
Does the publication date matter?
It depends on your topic
What is another element of accuracy?
Works Cited
What is the final method for examining accuracy?
Examine the research methods that were used
What can affect the relevancy of information?
Whether or not the article is above your understanding, the presence of bias, and the date of publication
What are some ways to evaluate authoritative work?
Checking where it came from, who it was created for, and how it is meant to be used
What are some questions to ask yourself concerning authority?
Is the author or creator of a work authoritative based on his or her personal experiences or academic credentials?
Is the research authoritative based on clear descriptions of the research methods that were used?
Is the research authoritative due to the process of evaluation used before it is published?
What makes an author or creator authoritative?
Academic credentialing
When should you consider an authority constructed
When they are built on a foundation of knowledge and others acknowledge their credentials
How does research become more authoritative?
When solid research methods are listed
What is the final way the authority of a work is assured and what is it?
Peer review; a “peer” is someone with a similar background, social, or educational status
What does the process of peer review examine?
Both your academic credentialing and the soundness of your research methodology
What other things to peer reviewers do?
They help to raise questions or points in need of clarification?
What can be peer reviewed?
Scholarly journals
When should you get peer reviewed sources?
It depends on the purpose and intended audience of your research
When is authority especially important and why?
When viewing websites because the creator of work may not be listed or be authoritative
What is a great source for authoritative information and why?
Professional scholarly journals because they have been peer reviewed
What is an especially helpful way to get an overview of an article?
The abstract
When might there be a level of bias?
When someone supports a specific point of view, is a certain person, or have a agenda
What makes research solid?
It should be able to be copied or replicated
