RELG 544

When doing research it's always important to evaluate the information and the sources that we find. A good way to do this is to use the CAARP test outline below and to make sure that the academic articles have been peer-reviewed.

• When was the information created?

• Who created the information? Who published the information: publisher, journal, website?

• Is the information supported by evidence? Has it been reviewed? Is it unbiased?

• Does the information relate to your topic? Who is the target audience?

• What is the purpose of the information? Why is the information being published?

Researcher/professor writes an article

• Submits it to a scholarly journal
• The article is evaluated by the editorial board of the journal
• Is is then evaluated by other specialists in the field
• Recommendation of changes   
• The article is published

How to Determine if it’s Peer-Reviewed:

• Consult academic journals
• Peer-review option in databases and the catalogue
• Consult the website of the journal