Evaluating Journal Articles with the CAARP Test

Summary

This tutorial guides researchers on how to evaluate journal articles and websites for academic use using the CART criteria: Currency, Authority, Accuracy, Relevance, and Purpose. It highlights the importance of checking the timeliness of information, the author's qualifications, the reliability of claims through references, the relevance of the content to the research topic, and the objective intent behind the article. Each criterion is illustrated through a sample journal article, emphasizing the need for critical assessment to ensure quality sources for academic research.

Takeaways

• 📅 Currency is important for determining the timeliness of information, especially for rapidly evolving fields like medicine.
• 👩‍🏫 Authority refers to the credibility of the author; check their credentials and affiliations to assess their expertise.
• ✅ Accuracy ensures that the information is reliable; look for evidence and references to support the claims made by the author.
• 📚 Relevance assesses whether the article fits your research needs; skim the headings and main ideas to determine this.
• 📝 Purpose examines the intent behind the article; identify whether it aims to inform, persuade, or entertain.
• 🔍 Different evaluation criteria may hold varying importance based on your specific research needs.
• 🗂️ Using the CARP acronym (Currency, Authority, Accuracy, Relevance, Purpose) can help you remember key evaluation criteria.
• 🌐 Access to quality information is crucial for effective academic research; always evaluate your sources.
• 📄 Look for objective language and lack of bias in articles to determine their purpose and reliability.
• 📌 Printable CARP handouts are available on the library's website for reference when evaluating sources.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the tutorial?

The main purpose of the tutorial is to guide researchers on how to critically evaluate journal articles and websites to determine their quality and usefulness as research sources.

What acronym is used to remember the evaluation criteria?

The acronym used to remember the evaluation criteria is CART, which stands for Currency, Authority, Accuracy, Relevance, and Purpose.

What does 'currency' refer to in the context of evaluating sources?

Currency refers to the timeliness of the information. It is crucial for topics that require up-to-date data, such as medical articles, but may be less important for historical topics.

Why is authority important when evaluating a source?

Authority is important because it relates to the credibility of the information source. The author’s qualifications and expertise significantly impact the source's reliability.

How can one check the authority of an article's author?

You can check the authority of an article's author by looking for information about the author, which is usually found at the top or bottom of the article. Conducting a Google search can also provide more context about their expertise.

What does accuracy signify in the context of evaluating research sources?

Accuracy signifies the reliability and correctness of the information presented. It involves checking if the author supports their claims with evidence from credible external sources.

What should you look for to assess the relevance of an article?

To assess relevance, you should skim the headings, introduction, and conclusion sections to understand the main ideas and check if the language used is appropriate for your research needs.

What is the purpose criterion about?

The purpose criterion examines the reason why the article was written. It considers whether the article aims to inform, persuade, entertain, or present research findings.

How can you identify the purpose of an article?

You can identify the purpose by looking for objective language, a lack of bias, and the author's stated intent, which may include informing or providing evidence for a particular argument.

What is the CARP test and where can it be found?

The CARP test is a method for evaluating sources based on Currency, Authority, Relevance, and Purpose. A printable handout of the CARP test can be found on the users guide page of the WC Libraries website.