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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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Reason for writing: the purpose for the existence of the information
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How can I learn more?
Visit the UW library’s online research guide Evaluating Information Sources.
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.