Library: Writing & Research: Getting Started

Feedback & Suggestions

Library Feedback
Comments, suggestions, & kudos
Suggest a Resource
Recommend resources to the library
Request Instruction
Request individual or class instruction

Welcome to the University of Fairfax Writing Center

If you have specific questions about APA style, plagiarism, or research, please contact us via chat or at librarian@ufairfax.edu.

Style Guide | Evaluating a Resource

Style Guide

The preferred style guide for The University of Fairfax is The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, i.e., "APA Style."

For more information about what the APA style is and how to use it, please visit the library's APA Style Help Guide. There you will find information on what the APA style rules govern, how to use the APA style in your writing and research, and more. The guide includes specific examples of APA citations, document formatting, etc.

Evaluating a Resource

These guides and websites will explain everything you need to know about how to evaluate sources, how to determine what is a peer-reviewed source, as well as how to tell the difference between primary sources and secondary sources.

Evaluating Information: Applying the CRAAP Test
When you search for information, you're going to find lots of it...but is it good information? you will have to determine that for yourself, and the CRAAP Test can help. The CRAAP Test is a list of questions to help you evaluate the information you find. Different criteria will more or less important depending on your situation or need.
(Handout provided from Meriam Library, California State University, Chico)
A Guide to Evaluating Resources
This is a simple and informative handout from Cornell College that gives an overview of Scholarly Sources vs. Non-Scholarly Sources, Primary Sources vs. Secondary Sources, and the Internet. It provides a side by side comparison of each.
How to Evaluate a Source
This source from Cornell University provides an checklist on how to evaluate the sources you are using.
The OWL at Purdue: Primary Search
Primary research involves collecting data about a given subject directly from the real world/ This section includes information on what primary research is, how to get started, ethics involved with primary research and different types of research you can do. It includes details about interviews, surveys, observations, and analysis.
Scholarly vs. Non-scholarly Resources
This is an interactive video created by the University of Sydney that will help you to determine what is considered a Scholarly Source and what is not by using the REVIEW technique.
Source Evaluation Checklist
This hand out from Cornell University provides students with a checklist for evaluating a source.
What Does Peer Review Mean?
This is short, informative review of what is a Peer Review Source by the SDSU Library.
Source Evaluation Checklist
This hand out from Cornell University provides students with a checklist for evaluating a source.
A Guide to Healthy Web Surfing
MedlinePlus offers a guide to Healthy Web-surfing, which provides instructions for evaluating the quality of health information on websites.