How do you evaluate the information you find, especially when Googling?
If in doubt, check it out!
Even if you think the source is reliable, get into the habit of checking your sources*.
Don’t simply rely on the source itself to convince you of its authority.
(*You may not need to do this with every source. Some sources will be recommended by your course, e.g. textbooks, scholarly articles, industry/government websites.)
Lateral reading and CRAAP
It's important to use a range of techniques when evaluating a source. We recommend using lateral reading alongside the CRAAP method.
What is the CRAAP method?
The CRAAP method evaluates a source, like a webpage, using the criteria of:
Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose.
Learn more about the CRAAP method.
These are all good things to look for, but simply scanning a source to decide if it is suitable under these criteria is not always a reliable test (see Evaluation myths below). Lateral reading can help.
What is lateral reading?
Lateral reading is when you cross-check a source using other sources to determine if the author/publisher and content are credible. Using lateral reading techniques gives you confidence that the source you are reading is reliable. This is particularly important with websites.
Learn how to use lateral reading techniques.
Using a kaupapa Māori-informed approach
Te Whatu Aho Rau - He Anga Arotake is a te ao Māori inspired information evaluation framework developed by Angela Feekery & Reupena Tawhai.
Read more.
GenerativeAI
Whilst GenAI tools, like ChatGPT, can be handy study tools (see Generative AI in Learning) always check out any sources provided by AI using lateral reading techniques, as above.
Evaluation myths
Certain criteria we may have relied on in the past are not always reliable indicators today:
Myth 1
Domain Names .org .com .gov .edu .ac are reliable indicators of the type/quality of a source
This is generally true, e.g. U.S. government websites typically end with “.gov” and New Zealand government sites with ".govt", and sites with ".edu" and ".ac" are typically education sites. However, while some domains have strict eligibility requirements, others like .com or .org are open to anyone. This means domain names can provide a useful clue, but they should not be your sole measure of credibility - always verify the source through additional checks.
Myth 2
Production Value shows it's a 'good' site
How slick or professional a site looks is not necessarily an indicator of quality. Anyone can create a well-designed attractive website, mimicking official-looking logos and style. This is why investigating the creators of the content is more important.
Myth 3
Advertisements = poor quality
If a site has advertising, it doesn’t always mean it's a ‘dodgy’ site. Many websites have ads, even those with reliable content.
However, do look out for sponsored/advertorial content, where an entire article/story is in fact an advertisement.
Myth 4
About Section shows professionalism and credibility
While it’s worth reading an About Us section as a starting point, keep in mind that anyone can write a convincing spiel to promote themselves. See above how to use lateral reading to determine the reliability of a site.
Myth 5
Citations & Linked Sources show credibility/research
When a website includes links to other sources and citations, it's not always an indicator of quality. Make sure you investigate what these citations or links actually are rather than trusting that the links are reliable research. See more under lateral reading above.
I need help!
Don’t hesitate to contact us for help evaluating your sources.
The Open Polytechnic Library & Learning Centre acknowledges the use of the Lateral Reading information provided by the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Libraries as a valuable source in creating the content for this page.
