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- Evaluating Information
NEUR 4044: Evaluating Information
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?
How to Read and Understand a Scientific Paper
“How to read and understand a scientific paper,” by Jennifer Raff, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas at Lawrence. This post was published August 25, 2013 on her blog titled Violent Metaphors: Thoughts from the Intersection of Science, Pseudoscience, and Conflict."
Journals and Articles - Indicators of Reliability
So you've found a journal article that looks trustworthy--where can you find information that will help you apply the basic evaluation criteria?