Our lives are flooded with information. Whether scrolling on our phones, browsing on a computer, or turning on the TV, we are surrounded by news. But how do you know if it is accurate? You will need to perform what we refer to as Lateral Reading--comparing the information presented in your source to additional sources to see if the information is being reported with the same meaning. To start this process, you will need a top-down source assessment.
CARE about Your Sources
How do you know if the resources, such as videos, magazine articles, memes, newspaper articles, news reports, podcasts, editorials, and more, are reliable and report accurate information? The first step is to examine the source by using the acronym CARE:
- C: Content, Creditibitily, Currency
- Is it clear what the site is about?
- Is the purpose of the content to offer factual information?
- Does the information appear to be true? How do you know?
- Is there a copyright or "date last updated" on the site?
- If yes, is the date current enough for the information you are learning?
- A: Author & Authority, Accuracy, Audience
- Who is the author, and what institution or company is behind the site?
- Is the author an authoritative/expert source?
- Is the site free from spelling and grammatical errors?
- Is the intended audience appropriate for my research? In other words, can I read and understand the information accurately?
- Are there references or a list of sources on the site?
- Can I contact the author or organization if I have questions?
- R: Reliability, Relevance, and Reasonableness
- Are there links to other relevant sources, and if so, do they work?
- What is the domain, and who owns it?
- Is the source helpful for my research question?
- Is the information objective? Can you ascertain the author's bias?
- E: Ease of Use, Efficiency, Emotion
- Is it easy to find the information I need?
- Is the website well-designed and organized to meet my needs?
- If there are graphics or charts, does the data presented match the information on the website?
- Is the intention of the source to invoke emotion?
Click Here for a Downloadable Worksheet
- Is your topic in an area that requires current information (such as science, technology, or current events), or could information found in older sources still be useful and valid?
- When was the information presented in the source first published or posted? Are the references or links to other sources up to date?
- Are newer sources available that would add important information to your understanding of the topic?
