How to do Research for a College Paper: STEP 5: Evaluate and Repeat

Use the CABLE method when evaluating any source -- whether print or online!

Use the CABLE Method to Evaluate Sources!

Currency (When?) When was the website published? When was it last updated? Are links to other sites still active?

Authority (Who?) Who wrote the pages on the website? What are the credentials of the author? How can I find out more about the author?

Bias  (Why?) What does the author say is the purpose of the website? Is the site objective or is only one point of view presented?

Level  (What?) How useful is this information for your purpose? Does it cover your subject in enough depth? Do you feel comfortable citing this page in a college-level assignment?

Explore  (Where?) Where does the site's information come from? Is it scholarly or popular? Can you verify the information on this site? Are there references or links to other sites?

Adapted from: The Library Instruction Cookbook "CABLE Cook-off: Learning to Evaluate Web Sites" (90-91)

Repeat the process

Find and read resources

Rewrite more specific research questions based upon your initial reading