Evaluate Information

" As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information."

Benjamin Disraeli

At this stage of research, a student will be performing one of two acts:

  • Identifying if their search result meets assignment criteria
  • Determining if the search results help or hinders his or her arguments

Want a librarian to teach this and other competencies to your students? Visit our Library Instruction page!

Types of Resources

Resources can be divided into five categories, wherein different types of resources can overlap:

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Scholarly
  • Trade
  • Popular

It is important to indicate to students that a resource can cover more than one category, such as primary and popular (ex: The New York Times coverage of the Titanic's sinking).

Below are some fast and loose definitions you can offer to students to define these resources:

Primary:
A first hand account of something or the first time something appears (ex: diaries of women settlers; slave narratives; original copies of literature). Can also be an original production of a work, such as Von Gogh's Starry Night or a novel or poem. Many are accessed through archives.
Secondary:
A reading or treatment of a primary resource, such as a critical essay on Huckleberry Finn or about why the Titanic sank. Usually offers research around the object of the study and offers interpretations.
Scholarly:
A "brain drain" item. A product of highly organized and in-depth research. Usually written in the specific language of a discipline (ex: postmodern blackness by bell hooks; Philosophy and Literature journals). Scholarly items usually include bibliographies; are reviewed by peers; and written by professionals in the field, such as university professors, doctors, or historians. The intended audience is usually other members of the profession.
Trade:
An item about a particular profession or field, such as a review about a new teaching tool, job ad, or conference ad (ex: Variety magazine for movie agents; Education Weekly for teachers). The intended audience is usually members of the profession, to inform them about new tools, books, careers, or conferences.
Popular:
A "brain candy" item that does not usually contain original research (investigative journalism is a notable exception) and has a wide appeal (ex: True Blood book series; newspapers; magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Maxim). Popular items are often found in doctors' and dentists' waiting rooms.

Application Example

Assignment: Determine Alexander Hamilton's role in shaping America

Research question: Why did Alexander Hamilton collaborate with James Madison and John Jay to write the Federalist Papers? Why did he feel it was necessary to write them?

During this stage, a student will:

  • Compare information with assignment criteria
  • Rank information by usefulness to project and timeline

Classroom Activities

Below are activities and handouts you can use in your classroom to show your students how to pick and define topics.

Library Tutorials

These tutorials are on the library web page and can be accessed at any time.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to Ask Steely Library!

Questions or comments about these pages can be directed to Ellie Jones.