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Why Evaluate?
It is important to evaluate the information you are considering for your research. Your professor will know if you are using biased or inaccurate information in your assignments. Incorporating poor quality sources and information will influence the grade you receive on your assignments
What is RADAR?
The RADAR Framework can help you remember what kinds of questions you should be asking about an information source as you evaluate it for quality and usefulness in your research.
Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs
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Authority: the source of your information
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Date: the timeliness of the information
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Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content
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Purpose: the reason the information exists
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What is the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources?
Primary | Secondary | Tertiary |
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Primary sources are first-hand accounts or individual representations. They are created by those who have directly witnessed what they are describing. |
Secondary sources interpret and/or analyze primary sources, as they offer different perspectives, analyses and conclusions on a given topic. | Tertiary sources are a compilation or digest of primary and secondary materials. Generally, they are agreed upon fact. |
Examples:
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Examples:
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Examples:
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When should I use journal articles for my assignment?
Journal articles should be used for your assignments and research, as they are written by expert researchers and critiqued by specialists in the field.
It is important to note the difference between a peer reviewed article and a popular article. Peer reviewed articles refer to those that have been edited and reviewed by authors’ peers, who are experts in the same field.
Popular articles are not peer reviewed, and are written to inform the general public.
How do I know if an article is peer-reviewed?
From the library’s list of research databases select Ulrichs Web Global Serials Directory. This allows users to discover information about the journal, such as whether or not it is peer-reviewed.
In Ulrichs, use the search bar to search the name of the journal that your article is indexed in. Journals that are peer-reviewed are referred to as “refereed.”
How can I learn more?
Visit the UW library’s online research guide Evaluating Information Sources.
Mandalios, J. (2013). RADAR: An approach for helping students evaluate Internet sources. Journal Of Information Science, 39, 470-478. doi:10.1177/0165551513478889
At certain points of the information searching and appraisal process you will feel uncertain and perhaps anxious. This is because you are likely consuming a large amount of information that is both new and contradictory to itself and what you have previously known. When you are feeling uncertain, research suggests that it is helpful to seek out someone to verbalize your thoughts with or to provide advice. Doing this will help you clarify your own thoughts, as well as help you position yourself within all this new information. Peers, librarians, your instructor, or (in a pinch) even someone who knows very little about the topic.
Once you develop and clarify your position on the topic, you will likely feel more confident moving forward with your appraisal and searching processes.