Tools, Tests, and Checklists: The Evolution and Future of Source Evaluation Frameworks

Abstract

In this article, we connect the scholarly conversations around established and emerging source evaluation frameworks such as the ABCs of website evaluation, CRAAP Test, DIG Method, RADAR approach, SIFT Method, the Proactive Evaluation approach proposed by the Project Information Literacy Team. We then explain each evaluation framework, delineating which framework is appropriate for a particular format, such as scholarly sources, online sources, image-based sources, and/or networked information sources. Lastly, we showcase the ways we have incorporated these source evaluation frameworks into our own classroom instruction and provide readers with ideas on how to do the same within their own institutional contexts.

Evaluation of search engine results pages in various languages and contents: the changes in strategies and criteria

“…Although this approach is not very common in the literature, a few examples are available suggesting the combination of both as effective frameworks (e.g. Efendio glu and Sendurur, 2023;Sye and Thompson, 2023). On the other hand, the criteria included in CRAAP and RADAR might have restricted the overall evaluation approaches of users.…”

“…Further studies might manipulate the original SERPs to observe the behaviour change in different languages, but still, it can overestimate the risks of familiarity. The CRAAP and RADAR checklists were originally used to teach learners to cope with the information search process effectively (Esparrago-Kalidas, 2021; Sye and Thompson, 2023). However, in this study, the author(s) combined and used them as a framework for the data analysis.…”

Six frames, four moves, one habit: Finding ACRL’s Framework within SIFT

“…2 The number of librarian-proposed updates to checklist methods of source evaluation has accelerated in recent years, 3 while SIFT has also emerged as a popular evaluation method with librarians. 4 Because of SIFT's popularity, and because we ourselves are using SIFT, we wanted to look closely at SIFT through the lens of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy. We believe there is value in using concepts from the entire Framework to best teach source evaluation.…”