ORGS 2200 - Organizations And Their Environments: Evaluating Information Sources

Q. There are a lot of resources available. How do you know which are the best resources to use?

A. It is never a good idea to use only one source. If possible you should compare information obtained directly from an organization’s publications or website with information retrieved from an authoritative source such as a database, e.g. Mergent Online, etc that include company information based on company filings and researcher analysis.

Q.How do you know what information provider can be trusted?

A. Searching Google is a start but if you cannot identify the source of the information, do not use it. Google is a place to start but not to finish. Be sure to include library resources which are chosen for their authority and reliability. Apply critical thinking to all the information your gather whether it is from an organization’s website, from a database or from articles published in magazines, trade, publications, scholarly journals or newspapers, from advocacy groups or on the Internet.

Q. What questions should I be asking myself?

A. There are a few simple questions you should ask yourself about the information you find.

• What is the source, i.e. who produced/wrote it?
• Who is the target audience?
• How long ago was it written and is it still relevant?
• What is the point of view?

Once you have found sources of information you want to work with, you may wish to use the PARCA test (PDF), shown in the box beside this one, to assist you when evaluating information found.

Remember that the information on a company's web site is compiled, designed and written by those who work at the company. Their may be an agenda behind the information shared, i.e. to sell a product or service, to attract investors, to portray a certain image of the organization (public relations) etc.

• Always make sure to have your critical lense on as you evaluate a company web site. Consider consulting the evaluating information sources section of this web guide.
• Ensure you consult third-party sources, in addition to just using the organization's web site, i.e. business press, or company databases provided by the library.

Do not take everything you read for its face value, and consider applying the PARCA test.

Purpose: Why does this resource exist? For example, ask yourself is it there to teach, inform, promote, sell or entertain?

Authority: Who wrote/produced/published the source and is this a credible source?

Relevance: Does the resource meet your needs and is it relevant to your topic of research?

Currency: If currency is important for your research, how current is the resource you are consulting?

Accuracy: Is the information in this resource reliable, e.g. is their evidence available to support the arguments made?