How to Evaluate Information Effectively

Evaluating information is a core academic skill. It helps you:

• Build credible academic arguments based on reliable evidence
• Understand what’s already been said — and how to position your own ideas
• Contribute with confidence, integrity, and evidence
• Develop your critical thinking and analytical abilities
• Navigate a complex world full of misinformation and disinformation

Academic research is like a conversation — and evaluation helps you join it thoughtfully. It’s part of becoming a critical, independent thinker, and a key expectation at university level.

It also supports your development of the Abertay Attributes, especially your ability to think critically, make informed decisions, and use digital tools with confidence.

(The Abertay Attributes describe the core skills, knowledge and attitudes all students are expected to develop — including intellectual rigour, professional judgment, and digital fluency.)

Before you evaluate a source, it's essential to know what kind of information you're dealing with. Different types of sources require different approaches.

Ask yourself:

• Is it academic or non-academic?
• Is it a primary, secondary, or tertiary source?
• Is it AI-generated, user-generated, or professionally published?

Explore these guides to help you recognise different source types:

• Academic vs Non-Academic Sources – Learn how to distinguish between scholarly and popular content

• Primary, Secondary and Other Types of Sources – Understand the roles different sources play in research

• How to Use Wikipedia Wisely in Academic Work – Learn when it's helpful and when it isn't

Tip: Different sources serve different purposes. For most assignments, academic sources (books, peer-reviewed journal articles) should form the foundation — but you might also use reputable media or professional content where appropriate.

Tip: Before you even start evaluating a source, pause to consider your own perspective. Are you more likely to trust information that confirms what you already believe?
Being aware of your own assumptions and biases is a key part of critical thinking — and helps you make fairer, more balanced judgments.

These universal checks apply no matter what kind of information you're reviewing:

Authority: Who wrote it? Are they qualified? Is the content peer-reviewed?

Accuracy: Can the claims be verified? Are references provided?

Bias/Objectivity: Is it fair and balanced? Are there any hidden motives?

Currency: Is the information up to date?

Relevance: Is it useful for your assignment and level of study?

Note: If you use Cite Them Right Online (CTRO), you may come across the ACORN checklist (Accurate, Current, Objective, Relevant, Named). CTRO use this as a simple way to highlight the qualities of academic credibility. It covers the same principles you’ll find in the frameworks on this page, but in a more basic mnemonic form.

Not sure how to start evaluating a source?
These frameworks offer different ways to apply key evaluation principles — like authority, accuracy, and bias — depending on what you're looking at.
Choose one that fits the type of source and your purpose.

Here’s how they compare:

CRAAP (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose): Best for quick structured checks of general sources. Easy to remember, but doesn’t address bias in depth.

5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why): Encourages deeper questioning for news, media, or AI content. Less structured.

Lateral Reading: Useful for spotting misinformation and bias in online or social media sources. Promotes cross-checking, but not always suitable for academic texts.

SIFT (Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace): Designed for digital verification of viral content and websites. Focuses on credibility but requires time and judgement.

PROMPT (Presentation, Relevance, Objectivity, Method, Provenance, Timeliness): UK-based framework suitable for academic and grey literature. Strong on objectivity and provenance.

RAVEN (Reputation, Ability to Observe, Vested Interest, Expertise, Neutrality): Best for argument analysis. Helps dissect author motivation. More advanced.

Tip: You only need one framework! Choose one matches the source and your purpose.

Evaluating a journal article? Try CRAAP or PROMPT.

Checking a website? Use Lateral Reading or SIFT.

Learn more in our Evaluation Frameworks Explained guide, including worked examples and advice on how to apply each method.

Bias can affect both the sources you find and how you interpret them — stay alert to these common types:

Types of bias include:

• Confirmation bias: Favouring information that supports what you already believe

• Political or ideological bias: Shaped by particular viewpoints

• Personal bias: Based on individual experiences or opinions

Tip: Reflect critically on how bias may influence your own choices — and explore more in our guide to Recognising and Managing Bias

AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can support learning — but they must be used critically and with caution.

• Accuracy: AI may hallucinate facts or fabricate references.

• Source traceability: Outputs are not peer-reviewed, reproducible, or clearly sourced.

• Bias: Responses may reflect hidden bias, gaps, or outdated training data.

• Citation: AI outputs are not academic sources. In most cases, you should only acknowledge their use. A formal reference is required only if your tutor asks for it, or if you directly quote, paraphrase, or critique a specific AI output. See our Referencing AI guide for details.

Key point: Use AI tools to support your thinking — not as evidence. Always cross-check AI content with trusted academic sources. See the full guide: Critically Evaluating Generative AI

These fast strategies can help you judge whether a source is worth reading in full:

• Use filters: In LibrarySearch or databases, apply filters like “peer-reviewed” or date ranges to narrow results
• Scan abstracts: Look at titles, abstracts, introductions, and conclusions to check relevance
• Look for keywords: Identify key terms in summaries or opening paragraphs
• Check citation count: A well-cited academic article may indicate reliability (though not always)
• Cross-check claims – Search for the same information on trusted websites
• Use fact-checking tools – Try Full Fact, Snopes, or BBC Reality Check
• Try lateral reading – Open a new tab to see what others say about the same source or claim
• Web content tips:
  • Check the publication or “last updated” date
  • Domains like .gov, .org, and .edu are usually more reliable
  • Be cautious with poorly designed or outdated websites

For more on verifying online claims, see our guide: Spotting Misinformation and Disinformation.