6.2: Thinking About Your Sources
- Page ID
- 324695
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[Man in red and black plaid dress shirt by invadingkingdom, licensed under the Unsplash license]
When conducting research it is important to think critically about the sources of information that you use. You not only want information that is accurate and reliable, but also want the right kind of information for your information need. The process of thinking about your sources to ensure they are useful and reliable is called evaluating sources. As shown in our chapter scenario, this is a skill that can help you both in school and in real life!
Unfortunately, not all information sources are created equally. Some will provide poor information while others will actively try to mislead or influence you. Learning how to evaluate sources helps you to find the best information, avoid misinformation and fake news, and build strong arguments.
You can remember a simple acronym to help guide you through evaluating sources: TRAAP.
- Timeliness: When was the source published/last updated?
- Relevance: Is the source closely related to your topic and your information need?
- Authority: Is the author an authority on this topic?
- Accuracy: Is the information accurate?
- Purpose: Why was this source written/created? Can you trust it?
In this chapter we will review each of these elements and help you avoid falling into the TRAAP of poor quality information!