This page provides guidance on quick and more detailed evaluation of information you find, whether on the internet or in Library resources.
Initial filtering
If you have a large number of results you need to start by filtering them to weed out irrelevant information. To get a quick overview, look at the title, summary, and any words highlighted in the text. For journal articles, peer review can provide a guide to academic quality, but you should still carry out your own evaluation, to be sure the information meets your needs.
Quick evaluation
A quick way of judging the quality and relevance of information you find on the web is to ask: Who? Why? When?
- Who put the information there (who owns the site)? What authority or expertise do they have in this area?
- Why did they create the site? Do the stated aims of the site match the content? Is the creator of the site coming from a particular viewpoint?
- When was the site last updated? If the site has not been updated for a while, how important is this for your needs?
Carrying out this quick check should enable you to spot any obvious weaknesses in the information you are looking at.
Evaluating in more depth
You can use the checklist below, known by the mnemonic PROMPT, to assess the relevance of information you find. There is also a printable version of the PROMPT checklist.
| P | Presentation Is this information clearly communicated? Look at language, layout, structure, etc. |
|---|---|
| R | Relevance Does this information match my needs right now? Look at the introduction or overview - what is it mainly about? |
| O | Objectivity Is the author's position of interest made clear? Look for an introduction or overview - do the writers state their position on the issue? Is the language emotive? Are there hidden, vested interests? |
| M | Method (research reports only) Is it clear how the data was collected? Were the methods appropriate? Do you trust it? |
| P | Provenance Is it clear where the information has come from? Can you identify the authors or organisations? How was it published? |
| T | Timeliness Is it clear when the information was produced? Does the date of the information meet your requirements? Is it obsolete? |
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