Evaluate the Date

Evaluation

Once a date has been established a decision may be made about the relevance of the information. If its purpose is to inform research on current events, then the freshness of the date may be critical. If its purpose is to capture perspectives prior to a world event (e.g., pre-9/11 attitudes about terrorism), then finding materials that pre-date that event is important. Depending on the nature of the research, date may not be important.

Evaluate the dates for one or more of these pages:

• The Air Car
• The Bridgewater Triangle
• Diamond Mining and Conflict

What problems might be involved in using these materials if...

1. ...the information needs to be as current as possible.
2. ...the information needs to reflect the status quo five years ago.

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