You can use the CRAAP (currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose) as a quick way to check a source but note that evaluation shouldn't just meet a checklist. It also matters how you intend to use a source.
Adapted from Meriam Library, CSU Chico, "Evaluating Sources--Applying the CRAAP Test."
It is also helpful to think about how to use a source when evaluating. Using BEAM (background, exhibit, argument, and method) can be helpful in determining a source's usefulness.
Adapted from Hunter College Libraries, CUNY, "How to Use a Source: The BEAM Method."
When evaluating resources you have to remember that you're not just a consumer, you're a researcher. This means working to understand bias, context, and issues surrounding the topic that you're studying.
For instance, dietary and nutritional information seems to be constantly changing. Why might this be? If I had to guess it would have to do with how difficult the studies are to conduct, who stands to gain by influencing the narrative and that our understanding of medicine is changing as well. It can be difficult for those with access to scholarly journals to sort out the data and almost impossible for the consumer.
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