SPARK: Student Papers and Academic Research Kit: Evaluating Sources

Evaluating Sources - How Do You Know if It's Good Information? - VCC

Evaluating information sources is crucial to the academic research process.  

There are a few criteria to consider when looking at potential resources to see if they are appropriate for your research.

Each resource should be evaluated using the PARCA test, a set of questions that address specific evaluation criteria. Answers to these questions do not necessarily exclude a resource, but they should help to decide how it fits in your research and its appropriate use.

The evaluation criteria include questions on Purpose, Authority, Relevance, Currency, and Accuracy (PARCA).

As you begin your research, you should also consider the development of your topic. For more information, refer to the Choosing a Topic module for valuable guidance on this critical process.

After selecting the types of sources you wish to use for your assignment, see the Research Strategies module for information on how to find specific items on your topic.

One way of critically evaluating sources found on the Internet is to subject them to the PARCA Test. 

Purpose:

Why does this resource exist?

• What is the purpose? Is it to teach, sell, promote, entertain?
• Do the author(s) make their intentions clear? Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, or personal biases?
• Is the information provided by the resource fact, opinion?
• Does it have a variety of viewpoints and arguments? Do your sources reflect different genders, ages, ethnic groups, languages, nationalities, disciplines, etc.?

Authority:

Who wrote/produced/published the resource?

• Is the source published by an academic publisher or a reputable organization?
• Is an author clearly identified? What are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is the author qualified to write on the topic? Degrees, professional designations, professional accomplishments and experience are indicators of qualifications.
• If it is a website, does the url reveal anything about the source (.com, .gov, .edu, .org)

Relevance:

Does the resource meet your needs?

• Is the information related to your topic?
• Does it support your viewpoint or provide an alternate one?
• Is the information and discussion at an appropriate level? Who is the intended audience (general population, scholars, practitioners etc.)?

Currency:

How current is the resource?

• When was the resource published or posted?
• Is this the most current version of this information available?
• Has the information been revised / updated? Is there proof of last update, publication date?
• Is currency of information a concern for your topic?

Accuracy:

Is the information in the resource reliable?

• Are the author’s claims supported by evidence?
• Has the content been reviewed by other experts? Is it a peer-reviewed resource?
• Are the language and tone biased?
• Are there spelling or grammatical errors?