General Library Research Tutorial

• Anne Burke: Project Lead, Storyboards
• Lisa Becksford: Script, Editing
• Daria Dorafshar: Graphics and Animation
• Andreas Orphanides: Editing, Audio Production, Technical Infrastructure
• Josephine McRobbie: Narration

This video is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States license.

Published June 2015

IMVAIN Method

Use the following criteria to evaluate resource credibility.

Independent sources are preferable to self-interested sources.

• Intellectually independent?
• Politically neutral?
• Financial interests at stake?
• Are family or friends involved?

Multiple sources are preferable to a report based on a single source.

• Is the information coming from several different sources?

Sources that Verify or provide verifiable information are preferable to those who merely assert.

• Are the sources' claims verified?
• Are the claims verifiable?
• Do the sources offer opinions, inferences or hunches without corroboration?

Authoritative and/or Informed sources are preferable to sources who are uninformed or lack authoritative background.

• Do the sources have appropriate knowledge?
• Do the sources have the appropriate credentials?

Named sources are better than anonymous ones.

• Are the sources fully identified?
• Do the sources speak on record?
• Is it an anonymous source?

Stony Brook Center for News Literacy

CRAAP Test

Use the following criteria to evaluate information resources for credibility.

Currency: the timeliness of the information

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has the information been revised or updated?
• Is the information current for your topic?
• Are the links functional?

Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information at an appropriate level (e.g. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
• Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is the one you will use?

Authority: the source of the information

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• Are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations given? If yes, what are they?
• What are the author’s qualifications to write on the topic?
• Is there contact information, such as a phone number or email address?
• Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? (e.g. com, .edu, .gov, .org)
• Is there an About or About Us section?

Accuracy: the reliability and truthfulness of the information

• Where does the information come from?
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Has the information been reviewed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
• Does the language or tone seem objective or free of emotion?
• Are there obvious errors (spelling, grammar)?

Purpose: the reason the information exists

• What is the purpose of the information? To inform? Teach? Sell? Entertain? Persuade?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
• Is the information fact? Opinion? Propaganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, cultural, religious or personal biases?

Survey!