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

It is important to know where the information is coming from and by whom it was written. Look at the following:

• Who is the author of the information?
• What are the credentials of the author, e.g. qualifications?
• What else did the author publish, especially in the same field?
• Is the author in any way biased?
• Was the information written by a person who is a specialist in this field or is it merely someone's hobby or opinion?
• Was the content verified, reviewed or peer-reviewed in any way?
• If the information is published by an organisation, is that organisation recognised and a reliable source/authority? E.g. the South African National Tuberculosis Association for information on TB-related topics.

Make use of the following resources to answer the above questions:

• Internet. You can do a search on the name of the author to help you determine what else the author has published and might even provide the credentials of the author, etc.
• Publication (book or article). You might find the authors credentials and qualifications in his publications.
• Read the preface!