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Lesson 1: Introduction, Background, and Review

Evaluating Information

Hyperlinked video frame for Evaluating Sources video from the Penn State Libraries. This image is hyperlinked to the page where you will find the videos outlined in the commentary.
Figure 1.3. Hyperlinked video frame for Evaluating Sources video from the Penn State Libraries. This image is hyperlinked to the page where you will find the videos outlined in the commentary. Source: The Pennsylvania State University

As part of this lesson, you should watch all six of the videos under Evaluating Information. You should also read the associated information on each page. The videos are short (less than 2 minutes each) and include

  • evaluating sources,
  • evaluating authorship,
  • evaluating content,
  • evaluating currency,
  • evaluating citations, and
  • publisher.

You may also want to view the short LionSearch Tutorial videos, if you need further assistance.

Databases you may want to consider...

  • Bloomberg Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) is a leading source of legal, tax, regulatory, and business information (Wikipedia, n.d.). The database includes authoritative coverage for taxes, accounting, labor and employment, intellectual property, banking and securities, employee benefits, health care, privacy and data security, human resources, the environment, and health and safety. You have access to the Bloomberg BNA through the Penn State Libraries.
  • Commerce Clearing House (CCH) is a Wolders Klewer business database that tracks, reports, explains, and analyzes tax and related law in over 700 publications in print and electronic form for tax, accounting, legal, human resources, banking, securities, insurance, government and health care professionals. (Wolters Kluwer, n.d.). You have access to the Business and Finance Internet Research NetWork, Health and Human Resources Research Network, and Intelliconnect through the Penn State Libraries.
  • LexisNexis Academic provides access to full-text documents from over 17,000 credible sources of information and pinpoints relevant information for a wide range of academic research projects. (LexisNexis, n.d.). You have access to LexisNexis Academic, including News Sources and State Capital, through the Penn State Libraries.
  • Research Institute of America (RIA) Checkpoint is a Thomson Reuters database that includes RIA International, Federal, State and Local Tax Libraries, along with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Codification and Governmental Accounting Research Systems. (SNHU, n.d.) You have access to both Tax and Estate Planning and Accounting and Corporate Finance through the Penn State Libraries.

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