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It's A TRAP!

2. T is for Timeliness

T is for Timeliness

Table with four columns and five rows. Top rows read: T, R, A, and P. Each row beneath each letter shows a question mark. The T column is circled.

T stands for timeliness. It helps you  evaluate the "when" of an information source. 

Watch the T is for Timeliness video to:

  • learn about timeliness
  • know what questions to ask when you are evaluating the timeliness of a source

Going Step by Step

Now, let's get ready to use the TRAP method to evaluate a source. Let's think of it as a step-by-step process.

The first step in the process is to evaluate a source's timeliness—T. You can ask yourself a few questions to check a source's timeliness: 

  1. When was this published?
  2. Has it ever been updated?
  3. Do I need up-to-date information?
  4. Would an older source be better?

Some of these questions are more relevant for certain types of information sources. For example, some questions are more relevant for newspaper articles, and others are more relevant for websites.

Stop and Think

 Which questions do you already ask yourself naturally when you're evaluating a source? Which ones on this list are new to you?

Librarian Tip

 Do you want some help going through the Timeliness questions? Ask a Librarian! Send us a live chat, give us a call, or stop by the library's front desk.

Last Updated: Sep 7, 2023 5:13 PM
URL: https://library.brockport.edu/TRAP