HNFE - Internship - Nutrition & Dietetics: Evaluating Information

Research resources and services of interest to HNFE Nutrition & Dietetics interns.

Looking for a guide to reading and understanding a scientific research study paper, with tips for evaluating such articles? Try this blog post on "How to Read and Understand a Scientific Paper: A Guide for Non-Scientists," by Jennifer Raff. Though it is targeted to 'non-scientists,' even scientists may find this series of steps useful. It may also come in handy if you're working with people outside of higher education who want to better understand university research publications for their use in education, policy, or industry.

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Evaluating Your Sources

Watch this short video produced by Western University in Canada on how to apply the CRAAP test to evaluate your sources that you may have found! 

Basic Evaluation Criteria

As you decide which resources to include in your research, here are some things to think about:
Authority:  Who wrote it?  What sort of expertise do they have in this area?
Coverage:  Is it relevant to your topic?  
Objectivity:  Is there any bias?  If so, how much?
Accuracy:  Is the information correct?  Is it in alignment with other research findings or articles?  
Currency:  When was your resource produced?  Does this matter for your topic?