LSU Libraries - Evaluation of Information Sources Tutorial

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Relevancy:

After all is said and done, does the information source answer your questions? Does it "fill your information need?"

While the other criteria are based on facts, things you can see or find out about your information source, this one is a total judgment call. You must know what information you need, what type of information source you need it to come from, and what you will be using that information for (a final term paper, a short composition, your personal knowledge or information, etc.).

You must make the judgment as to the relevancy of your information source. Is the information source relevant to your information need?

It is entirely possible, and highly likely that you will find an item which is very reliable, from a very authoritative source, very current, and very complete... but not relevant to your topic.

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