Finding indications of reliability

The next several sections of this module will guide you in identifying the indications of reliability in books, periodicals, and web sites. There is a key difference between books and periodicals, regardless of their format, and web sites.

• Books may have a print, electronic, or microform version. However, prior to publication, information found in books go through some level of editorial or peer review.
• Periodicals may have a print, electronic, or microform version. However, prior to publication, information found in periodicals go through some level of editorial or peer review
• Web sites do not generally have print or microform versions. Nor does the information in web sites normally go through any kind of review process.

Taken together, the six evaluation criteria plus the presence or absence of logical fallacies and reputable documentation will provide you with an overall impression of the reliability of a piece of information. Finding indications of reliability in a particular piece of information is the next part of evaluating information. The table below summarizes this.

If you have not looked at the criteria for evaluating information, you should back up and scan those definitions.

The next three sections on finding indications of reliability in books, periodicals, and web sites are summarized in a table.

Introduction
Assessing Usefulness
Assessing Reliability
Finding Indications of Reliability
Books
Articles
Web Sites
End of Module