Topic outline

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    • Time: 7 hours
    • Free Certificate
    This course will help you use information ethically by evaluating your sources to ensure you are selecting the most accurate, credible, and relevant information for your project, whether you are writing a research paper as part of an academic program, compiling research for a business report, or writing a magazine or journal article. When evaluating information, you should consider its currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. The information you choose and utilize to support your writing reflects well or poorly on you since your audience judges whether you are a thorough academic researcher, reliable contract employee, or credible journalist.

    We begin in Unit 1 by reviewing the research process to better understand what you can expect and will need to complete to be a successful researcher. In Unit 2, you will understand how to evaluate the sources you found as part of the research process and apply specific evaluation methods. Unit 3 will expand your understanding of assessing information, focusing on websites. In Unit 4, you will learn how to integrate your research and the sources you have found into your writing ethically, including citing your sources.

  • Unit 1: The Research Process

    Since the research process can seem daunting, reviewing the steps you should take (and re-take) to research your topic may be helpful. Our examination is not a comprehensive look at the research process but an overview of what to expect and how to begin finding the sources you need for your project.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 2 hours.

    • 1.1: Beginning the Research Process

      The research process can seem overwhelming if it is unclear. Keep in mind that research cycles through steps and back again.

    • 1.2: Locating Sources

      Begin your research by locating your sources. Let's examine how to find sources online and explore some other options.

  • Unit 2: How to Evaluate Sources

    The research process models we explored in Unit 1 discussed finding sources. Now, we need to evaluate which sources are correct and valuable and which are not. Whether you have discovered an online source or an artifact at your local library, the CRAAP model of source assessment will help you determine whether it is credible and usable. This clever acronym refers to the test you should use for your source evaluation process. It will help you sort your information into quality sources you can use and materials you should discard. This unit focuses on some broad principles to guide your source assessment. In Unit 3, we will look at some additional guidance for checking online sources, which have unique features that can help. First, let's discuss general research evaluation principles for online and printed sources.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.

    • 2.1: Creating an Evaluation Framework

      With the internet and smartphones, we have access to more information at our fingertips than most of our ancestors had available during their lives! Finding information is not our primary challenge. Instead, we are tasked with separating facts, data, and knowledge from misinformation (wrong information) and disinformation (intentionally false or misleading information).

    • 2.2: CRAAP – Currency or Timeliness

      The first criterion of the CRAAP model is to ensure the currency or timeliness of your resource. Is it topical? When was the information posted or published? Does your topic require your information to be current? For example, your information needs to be timely if you are writing about the sciences or current events. Anything older than 5-10 years is probably out-of-date. However, currency may be less relevant if you are looking for a historical resource.

    • 2.3: CRAAP – Relevance

      Next, we need to explore the criteria of relevance. Is the information you found tied to or related to your topic? Who is the intended audience? Was it created for other scholars? Was it made for the general public? News sites are good but may not be as relevant for scholarly research.

      A periodical is a scholarly journal, magazine, or newspaper. For most college-based and professional research, you should concentrate on academic journals. Their ethos relies heavily on being peer-reviewed, meaning other scholars from similar fields have reviewed the articles. Most magazines and newspapers lack this type of oversight. General editors, rather than content specialists, approve their work. Magazine and newspaper writers follow journalistic principles, such as the SPJ Code of Ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists.

    • 2.4: CRAAP – Authority

      As we noted, the author's qualifications are incredibly important during your source evaluation. Does the author have a good reputation as a quality scholar? Do they have the ability to observe? Ideally, you want to learn from the person who conducted the study rather than someone who wrote about it. Do they have expertise in the area? For example, did they earn an academic degree that is relevant to your research? Is the author neutral, or do they appear to be trying to convince or persuade you to believe something?

      Be sure to search the internet for information about the author's academic and professional background. You are looking for the author's credentials: Does the author hold a position at a college, university, or research institute? Do they have personal ethos? You may also want to examine the reputation of the place where they work. We will look at the "sponsoring organization" and other online-specific tips for evaluating online sources in Unit 4.

    • 2.5: CRAAP – Accuracy

      Accuracy refers to whether your information is correct and supported by evidence, not simply the author's opinion. Has a third party, such as a subject-matter expert, peer-reviewed or fact-checked the information? Can you verify the information with a third source?

      The location where you find a print source – a book, magazine, journal, or newspaper – speaks a lot about its credibility. For example, if you find a print source in a college library, there is a good chance the librarian chose to include it in the college's collection as an academic resource. However, do not make too many assumptions since you do not know the librarian's intent. Perhaps the book's author makes unbelievable claims but provides interesting historical context, excellent photography, or compelling design material. Similarly, a professor who recommends a source has probably reviewed it for credibility, but you should always make your determination. Perhaps two resources have the same title, or a different author wrote the revised version. Be sure to decide whether the resource you want to use or refer to suits your purposes.

    • 2.6: CRAAP – Purpose

      Purpose refers to why the author wrote the resource you are evaluating. If you are writing a research paper, the author's purpose should have been to share their research findings or inform their reader neutrally. Their primary goal should not have been to sell you something, convince you to vote in a certain way, change your opinion, profit a company, or persuade you to adopt a specific idea or belief. Ask yourself whether the author is trying to convince you to believe something without providing any supporting evidence. Do they have a bias?

      Objectivity is an important consideration when evaluating a source. In this context, objectivity does not refer to whether the author expresses their opinion or biases but whether the author has used objective research methods to reach their conclusions. They should have considered several different viewpoints. Is the overarching purpose of the website you are reviewing to sell you a product, membership, magazine subscription, or conference attendance? This "red flag" can help determine whether the website or organization is credible. You need to determine whether the studies, expert opinions, or statistics they present are skewed or partially represented to hook you into buying something.

      Pay attention to the advertisements and pictures surrounding your article. These marketing pieces could provide a clue for understanding the periodical's audience. Does the journal seem to target scholars, or do the articles seem solely designed to attract readers, earn more advertising dollars, and sell more magazines? Do the magazine's advertising or funding organizations compromise the integrity or ethos of the publication? Do they make you question the credibility of the content?

  • Unit 3: Special Considerations for Evaluating Online Sources

    Until this point, we have focused on appraising sources using the five criteria of the CRAAP evaluation method: credibility, relevance, authorship, accuracy, and purpose. Now, we will look at two similar evaluation models – APPEAL and RADAR – and review some additional features that can help us better assess the quality of online resources.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.

    • 3.1: Additional Evaluation Methods

      The APPEAL and RADAR models offer scholars another lens or framework for evaluating websites. However, they use nearly identical concepts and methods for reviewing website content as the CRAAP test.

    • 3.2: Author and Sponsoring Organization

      As we noted earlier, verifying an author's credibility for all source materials, including websites, is essential. Let's look at some additional factors you should consider when reviewing a website. Note that you may come across blogs or other sites where you cannot find any information about the author or sponsoring organization. Since you cannot verify the source's credibility, you should not use the information authoritatively in your research. However, a lack of documentary evidence should not prevent you from criticizing the information you find on the website. Even so, the site's lack of supporting material should prevent you from using the site's information to support your claims or provide context for your research. This applies to any gaps or lack of supporting documentation you discover in the materials you find.

    • 3.3: Political, Social, or Cultural Agenda

      Most organizations articulate their agenda in their website's "about" link. Do they promote a certain ideology or support a political party, leader, or candidate? Is their mission to influence public policy? Who founded the organization? Who are their partners? You may need to research these items to obtain a full picture of the organization's worldview since these factors may influence the content of the articles on their website. For example, in the "about" section of the Centre for Social Justice's website, the organization seeks to "narrow the gap between rich and poor, challenge the corporate domination of Canadian politics, and press for policy changes that promote economic and social justice".

      The information on its website, such as statistical interpretations, interviews, and calls to action, will likely promote the sponsoring organization's mission. When analyzing its site, you might also want to look at the Centre's list of partners (other social justice organizations, faith groups, unions, and universities) to gain additional context. Websites lose credibility when their sponsors intentionally misrepresent the facts or omit key information. Look for these if you are familiar with the topic. You may have to read the reports and research the experts cited to judge whether the source is credible and whether you should cite it yourself. You are searching for examples that point to their ethos.

    • 3.4: Appearance

      Take a look at the appearance of a potential website source. Does it look professional and well-curated? While this type of analysis is a judgment call we make based on our experience visiting other sites, you can sometimes use appearance to get a feel for the site's authenticity. Does the site use proper grammar and spelling, and do its claims seem reasonable? Remember our discussion of purpose from earlier? Are there many advertisements that may indicate the website's purpose is to sell you a product, membership, magazine subscription, or conference attendance? Is the journal written for scholars, or does it seem to be designed to attract viewers and earn more advertising dollars?

  • Unit 4: Integrating Sources into Your Writing

    Using the research process, you can identify your information need, develop a search strategy to find relevant sources, and evaluate the content to ensure it is credible, relevant, accurate, authoritative, and the purpose connects to your research. Once you have relevant sources, it is time to integrate your research into your writing. You are now engaging in scholarly conversation by integrating your research into your writing, whether for an academic research paper, business report, or publication as a magazine or journal article. This requires that you ethically integrate your research. In Unit 4, we will examine the Introduce, Cite, and Explain (I.C.E) method to accomplish this.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.

    • 4.1 Why Sources Are Important

      By integrating sources into your writing, you are engaging in a conversation with those authors and their ideas. This is known as the scholarly conversation. This can be formal scholarship when writing a research paper, a conversation with the public when writing a magazine article, or a conversation with those in your profession when writing a business report. Understanding the importance of citing those you are engaging with demonstrates that you understand the importance of attribution.

    • 4.2 Integrating and Citing Your Sources

      When preparing to integrate sources into your writing, there are three ways you can accomplish this: directly quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing. Each of these methods demonstrates your ability to integrate sources into your writing ethically.

  • Course Feedback Survey

    Please take a few minutes to give us feedback about this course. We appreciate your feedback, whether you completed the whole course or even just a few resources. Your feedback will help us make our courses better, and we use your feedback each time we make updates to our courses. If you come across any urgent problems, email contact@saylor.org.

  • Certificate Final Exam

    Take this exam if you want to earn a free Course Completion Certificate.

    To receive a free Course Completion Certificate, you will need to earn a grade of 70% or higher on this final exam. Your grade for the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam on your first try, you can take it again as many times as you want, with a 7-day waiting period between each attempt. Once you pass this final exam, you will be awarded a free Course Completion Certificate.