IF I APPLY Think-Questions for each step

I–identify emotions attached to a topic

• What are your honest opinions regarding the topic?

• Have you addressed your internal biases?

• Make an all-inclusive list of counter-opinions or counter-arguments.

F-find unbiased reference sources that will provide a proper and informative overview of the topic

• Conduct a general knowledge overview.

• Search for information in: encyclopedias, wikis, dictionaries, etc.

I-intellectual courage is needed to seek authoritative voices on the topic that may fall outside your comfort zone or thesisi.

• Identify credible materials for all of the viewpoints -yours and the additional you identified

• Reject unsound arguments -have the courage to accept that not all viewpoints are valid

A–authority

• Who is the author (may be individual or organization) and/or publisher?
• What are the credentials and affiliation or sponsorship of any named individuals or organizations?
• How objective, reliable, and authoritative are they?
• Have they written other articles or books?v.Do they specialize in publishing certain topics or fields?

P–purpose/point of view of source

• Does the author have an agenda beyond education or information?
• What can be said about the content, context, style, structure, completeness and accuracy of the information provided by the source?
• Are any conclusions offered? If so, based on what evidence and supported by what primary and secondary documentation?
• What is implied by the content?v.Are diverse perspectives represented?
• Is the content relevant to your information needs?vii.Why was the information provided by the source published?
• What are the perspectives, opinions, assumptions and biases of whoever is responsible for this information?
• Who is the intended audience?x.Is anything being sold?

P–publisher

• Does the publisher have an agenda?ii.When was the information published?
• Publication date is generally located on the title page or on the reverse side of the title page (copyright date)
• Is the information provided by the source in its original form or has it been revised to reflect changes in knowledge?
• Has the publisher published other works?
• Is this information timely andNis it updated regularly?
• Is the publisher scholarly (university press, scholarly associations)? Commercial? Government agency? Self (“vanity”) press?

L–list of resources

• Where else can the information provided by the source be found?
• Is this information authentic?
• Is this information unique or has it been copied?

Y–year of publication

• What makes information “current” or relevant?ii.Is this information current?
• Can you find more current or relevant information?
• Is the cited information current?
• Make sure work is not based on outdated research, statistics, data, etc.iv.Is the information routinely updated?

Kathleen Phillips (Nursing & Allied Health Liaison Librarian, Pen State Univ.), Sabrina Thomas & Eryn Roles (Research & Instruction Librarians, Marshall Univ.)

LOEX Presentation, 2018

Kathleen Phillips LibGuide