Main Contents Page

Before you start

STEP 1: STARTING OUT

STEP 2: FINDING

STEP 3: EVALUATE

- Fact vs opinion

- Currency (up-to-date)

- Authority

- Intended audience

- Publishing body

- Popular vs academic

- Eliminate irrelevant info

- Primary vs secondary sources

- Critical reading

- CARS checklist

- Quizz

STEP 4: LEGAL USE

STEP 5: COMMUNICATE

When people write articles, papers, etc. it's always aimed at a specific audience, for e.g. a child care article that is aimed at parents, a highly scientific article is aimed at other scientists on that level. Therefore the following is important:

• Who is the intended audience for the source (books, journals, etc.)? Look at the preface.
• Is the publication aimed at a highly specialised, technical audience or is it more basic and elementary?
• The bottom line is to make sure that the information is appropriate for your needs.

Again, the preface will often answer these questions. Modern retrieval and search systems also sometimes indicate the targeted audience.