Evaluating Accuracy

Goal: Find accurate, reliable information.

• Are sources provided so that you can verify the information?
  Examples: Footnotes, reference lists, links
• How reliable are the sources? Are all links on a Web page still good?
  See the criteria for evaluating authority.
• Does the information in this source generally agree with sources discussing the same topic?
  If not, the supporting evidence must be exceptionally strong.
  Examples: a site claiming Elvis is still alive needs extraordinary proof, but one which reports on the anniversary of his death needs much less supporting evidence.
• Is the journal peer-reviewed?
  Examples: Peer-reviewed journals are considered the most accurate sources, but not all scholarly sources are checked by other experts.

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