Why evaluate

In other cases, information is no longer accurate because advances in research and technology have changed what is possible. For example, as technology for batteries has improved, the production of electric cars has increased beyond what was even possible thirty years ago.

Information may also be inaccurate because of how it is presented, like when someone tries to represent every side of an issue equally, but ends up lending undue importance to a perspective that is not well-supported by research. For example, a journalist may write a story about the positive environmental impact of using native plants in home landscaping projects, and cite various studies to back up that claim. However, if the author dedicates equal space in the article to commentary from people who prefer the appearance of grass lawns, this could give the impression that both views hold equal weight, despite one of the views not being supported by research.

Another way information may be more easily misinterpreted is if its importance has been overstated. Sometimes academic authors exaggerate the importance of an experiment by misrepresenting the results to get their work published and recognized widely. This is not always malicious or deliberate. It could be an attempt to draw more clicks with an exciting or dramatic headline, or it could just be a reporter who is not an expert on that topic misunderstanding the research.

Because news articles tend to be shorter and written for a general audience, their summaries of research studies will always be simplified. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Essay Why is it important to evaluate credibility sources?

Ben Davis April 30, Why is it important to evaluate credibility sources? How do you evaluate the reliability of a source? How do you evaluate the source of information? What is the reliability of a source?

Is pamphlets a reliable source? Is Wikipedia struggling financially? Is Wikipedia asking for donations ? How accurate is Wikipedia information? Why Wikipedia is a good source? Is Wikipedia Good or bad? Is Wikipedia really dying? Which is better Wikipedia or Britannica? How does Wikipedia update so quickly? Does Wikipedia Make Money? Evaluations frequently include both quantitative and qualitative data. DIY evaluation is possible. Although a full blown evaluation may be difficult, and external evaluators may not be in your budget, a project team can look for opportunities to weave evaluation into other activities.

For example, consider adding a question or two onto another survey you may be fielding for a different purpose. Or, if you are planning discussions about roles and responsibilities, consider adding a probe about what has worked well and what might work even better. You learn how to optimize for success and discover the story behind the results Evaluators ask three over-arching questions at the start, middle and end of the project: What happened?

Evaluation paves the way to project improvements In a typical learning collaborative, teams collect data to monitor progress and test change, which is certainly critical for improvement.

One size does not fit all Evaluation can take many shapes. Are there two or more reliable sources that provide the same information? Currency refers to information that is current at the time of publication. Consider publication, creation and revision dates. Beware of Web site scripting that automatically reflects the current day's date on a page. Tip: The information provided might have been current at the time it was published. Can you establish the publication date?

Does the revision date cover changes in content or aesthetic revisions only? Consider the following questions when determining whether or not a website is appropriate for use in your research and course work. Is an indication of size provided in kilobytes where a link leads to large volumes of data text, images, video, or voice? Search this Guide Initiate. Critical Evaluation of Sources: Introduction and Criteria Criteria and guidelines to evaluate information from ANY location - web pages and print sources.

Introduction and Criteria Why Evaluate? Introduction Evaluating a source can begin even before you have the source in hand. Explains why you should evaluate and different levels. Criteria Clues to Credibility: Trustworth organization and Author expertise BY purpose or mission statement, clear credentials listed, and current contact information Use the following criteria: Authority Currency Coverage Objectivity Accuracy C overage or scope refers to the extent to which a source explores a topic.

Scope and Subject Matter What subject is covered? What is the purpose of the site? Is the site intended to be comprehensive or selective? Who is the intended audience? What is the intended age or academic level?

How does the site compare with other related sites? With other related print sources? Is the information unique, or is it available in other forms? On which server is the site mounted? Is it reputable? This may indicate a personal web directory, thereby reflecting a personal rather than institutional viewpoint. Is there an obvious bias?