Thématique: Evaluating sources
Determining how pertinent information is
The art of staying on topic
OBJECTIVES
  • Applying criteria to evaluate the relevance of information in relation to a specific purpose
QUIZ
Which of the following answers are correct? (check all that apply)
There are several steps in documentary research. To determine the pertinence of information each step has a corresponding question. Put the questions in the correct order:
Is the document research tool appropriate for the type of document I’m looking for?
Does the document properly address my topic?
Does the information I have found meet my research needs in any way?
Am I using the right keywords?
Which of the following criteria allow you to evaluate the relevance of the information you have found for your research? (Check all that apply).
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KEY POINTS

If Anna’s situation makes you smile, it may be because it sounds familiar. To select the most useful documents for your paper, ask yourself:

  • Does the scientific content address part or all of my topic?
  • Is the information specific enough for my research?
  • What type of document is it (book, article, review, etc.)?
  • What type of information is provided (graphs, diagrams, etc.)?

Remember, the documents can be quality documents but not be relevant to your research. And don’t forget, quality and relevance are two different criteria.

FOR FURTHER STUDY