
Look critically and systematically at the information you find. Evaluate not only the individual articles, books and websites you find, but also try to assess whether your search was good.
Relevance
Relevance is the extent to which the information is applicable to your report.
- Does the information answer (part of) your question?
- Is this the best form of information to answer the question?
- Does the information connect well with the target audience?
Reliability
The degree to which you can trust that the information is correct.
If multiple sources confirm the information, this is a sign that the information is probably correct. When a source does not seem reliable, you can do two things:
Consider not using this source.
Post a critical comment.
Topicality
A current book or article need not always be recent. Core publications retain their value over the years.