To evaluate information means to recognize whether or not the information you've found is credible. You already make these evaluations every day, by asking a friend who likes camping where you should go for the weekend, or by watching the meteorologist on the morning news who you think gives the most accurate forecast. Perhaps without realizing it, you are constantly making decisions about what (and whose) information you find useful. This guide will show you how to break down that decision-making process and use it to evaluate new information both inside and outside of the classroom.
Learning to properly evaluate information not only saves you time and effort in research, it allows you to more effectively engage with the world around you. It allows you to see information in context: to think critically about the source and purpose of information, and to consider how it interacts with ideas and facts you already know.
In this guide, you will learn: