Watch this short video from Brock University about using RADAR to evaluate information.
| Element | Explanation | Reflection Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Rationale | Rationale is important because books, articles, and web pages are made to serve a purpose. Remember that no information is completely free from bias because the positionality of the authors always impacts their perceptions. The rationale may include intent to educate, entertain, or sell a product or point of view. Some sources may be frivolous or commercial in nature, providing inaccurate or false information. Other sources are more ambiguous about any potential partiality. Varied points of view can be valid as long as they are based on good reasoning and careful use of evidence. |
Why does this source exist? Who is the intended audience? Does the information in the source provoke any emotions or make you feel a certain way? |
| Authority | Authority is important in judging the credibility of the author's assertions. In a trial regarding DNA evidence, a jury would find a genetics specialist's testimony far more authoritative compared to testimony from a professor in English. |
Where is the information published? Who wrote it and what are their credentials? |
| Date | Date, or currency, is important to note because information can quickly become obsolete. Supporting your research with facts that have been superseded by new research or recent events weakens your argument. Not all assignments require the most current information; older materials can provide valuable information such as a historical overview of your topic. In some disciplines, the date of the source is less important, while in others it is very important. |
When was the information first published or last updated? Is your topic in an area that changes rapidly, like technology or science? |
| Accuracy | Accuracy is important because errors and untruths distort a line of reasoning. When you present inaccurate information, you undermine your own credibility. |
Was the information reviewed by editors, subject experts or peer reviewers before it was published? Are there references or citations? Are there statements you know to be false? Verify an unlikely story by finding a reputable outlet reporting the same thing. |
| Relevance | Relevance is important because you are expected to support your ideas with pertinent information. A source detailing Einstein's marriage would not be very relevant to a paper about his scientific theories. |
How relevant is the information to your assignment? Is the information too technical or too simplified for you to use? |
Adapted from:
Loyola Marymount University. Evaluating Sources: Using the RADAR Framework.
Red River College Polytechnic. Source Evaluation guide.
Work with a partner to evaluate the credibility of these four sources using the RADAR evaluation framework and rank them from 1 - most credible to 4 - least credible.
Be prepared to discuss your ranking and reasoning with the class.
Submit your answers through this Google Form.