Generally, we think of evaluation as something which occurs at the end of a job, project or paper. In doing research, however, evaluation is an ongoing process. Evaluation
Evaluation is something we do every day. (That concert was cool; that CD is awesome; that movie was weak.) Sometimes, we evaluate more formally. If you want to purchase a new
stereo, you might do some (or all) of the following: check consumer magazines for their reviews of different manufacturers, ask friends, listen to various systems, and, of course, check prices for the best deal. When you actually purchase your new stereo, you may be influenced by the brand names (SONY components, BOSE speakers) and such things as warranties, service and the like. You really have been doing a systematic evaluation to purchase the best stereo for your budget.
While doing research, you will be evaluating information as you retrieve it. What will help you determine whether the book you found is good, inappropriate or merely okay for your research? What criteria will you use to evaluate a book or journal or other source of information? Take a moment and jot down your thoughts regarding evaluation criteria.
By evaluating the material you retrieve as your research progresses, you increase your chances of obtaining accurate, timely and unbiased information, and decrease your chances of basing your research paper on a bogus study.
