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#SearchSmart! Information Literacy Tutorial

This is a self-learning tutorial that addresses each stage of the research process, including: identifying information needs; selecting sources; finding high-quality, scholarly information; evaluating information; and using information responsibly.

Importance of Evaluating Information Sources

To start with, anyone may publish a website on any topic, and there are many hoax websites. More importantly, websites have not undergone a review process for inclusion in a collection, whereas the resources in the Library’s databases have. Many websites are inaccurate, biased, out-of-date, or just not thorough enough. Therefore, you must be the most critical of information obtained from websites. 

 Evaluating the sources of information you find is a crucial part of the research process.

This involves assessing whether to keep or discard sources based on their relevance, reliability, and quality. According to the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) in their Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, critically evaluating information is essential for developing information literacy. This skill helps students judge the contributions of others in information-sharing environments, ensuring they use the best possible sources for their research.

NB:

In today's information age, anyone can find a wealth of information on almost any topic. The real challenge is sifting through this vast amount of information to identify reliable and appropriate sources.

  • Wide Availability of Information: With so much information accessible, it’s crucial to differentiate between trustworthy sources and those that aren't.
  • Generative AI Impact: Generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, can produce vast amounts of information quickly, but their outputs aren't always accurate or reliable. It's essential to evaluate these AI-generated sources carefully.
  • Critical Evaluation: Whether the information comes from books, periodicals, YouTube, television, or AI-generated content, don’t assume it's reliable. It’s up to you to evaluate its quality.
  • Your Responsibility: As a user, you are responsible for judging the credibility of the information you find and ensuring it's suitable for your research.

By developing the skill to critically evaluate sources, you can ensure that your research is based on high-quality and reliable information.

UWC LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICES

University of the Western Cape,

Robert Sobukwe Road,

Bellville,

7535

Tel: 021 959 2946