Locating and Evaluating Internet Sites

You may not be a subject expert in the area you are researching, but there are a number of basic things you can look for to help you evaluate the credibility of website. The following are some questions you should ask when considering whether or not to use an Internet source.

Purpose: Is the site meant to entertain or inform the audience or both? Helps students learn to use appropriate criteria when evaluating web sites. Provides practice in academic citation.

Audience

• Does the site state its intent?

• Is the site directed to a specific audience?

• If the site claims to provide scholarly research, are references available?

Authority/Source

• Is there an identified author of the Web page or site?

• Is contact information, i.e., an e-mail address and/or address, given for the author?

• Are the credentials of the author stated? Is the author an expert in his/her field?

• Have others, either in the print media or electronic sources, cited the author?

• Have other web pages linked to this page or site?

• Is this site sponsored by an organization? If so, is the purpose and scope of the organization given? Is a phone number and surface mail address given for the organization, in addition to an e-mail address?

Currency/Date

• How current is the information?

• When was the site or page last updated?

• Does the site or page aim to provide current information or is it primarily for historical purposes?

• How up-to-date are the links on the site?

• Is the information timely in relation to the content?

Accuracy

• Does the page use correct spelling and grammar? Is the writing clear and concise?

• Is the information presented verifiable and accurate?

Objectivity/Bias

• Does the site have a bias?

• Is there a commercial or organizational interest associated with the site?

• Are there advertisements on the page? Is the page actually an ad disguised as information?

• Is the site based on verifiable facts or opinions?

• Are inflammatory words, phrases or profanity used in the site?

• Are misleading or deceptive arguments used?

• Are there fallacies in arguments and reasoning?

• Are stereotypes or ethnocentric arguments used?

Coverage

• How complete and thorough is the coverage of the information presented?

Consensus

• How does this Web page or site compare with others on the same subject?

• How does this Web page or site compare with print sources or proprietary electronic sources on the

same subject?

• Does the page or site contain references to other websites, articles, books, etc?

• Does the information presented agree or disagree with an accepted point of view?

Design

• Is the website easy to read and navigate? Are instructions clear?

• Does the site load quickly?

• Are there links to other pages and back to the main page? Are links up-to-date and active?

• Do design elements enhance or hinder the accessibility and content of the site?

• Does the site have stable and reliable access?

Relevancy

• Does this Web page closely relate to what I need?

• Does the content support my thesis statement?

• Is the content too broad or narrow for my needs?

• Is there original content or is the page a collection of links?

Assignment: Find a web page or website of interest to you, or one that is appropriate to a project you are working on. Cite this page, using a style manual to assist you. Then write 2-3 paragraphs evaluating the site you have chosen. Include a print copy of the first page of the web site, as well as present a log of the search strategy that you used to locate the site. Find two websites related to your topic and evaluate the quality of the websites based on the criteria listed below.

For descriptions of each criterion, please see the handout “Evaluating Websites

CRITERIA	SOURCE 1	SOURCE 2
Website Address
Purpose
Audience
Authority
Currency
Accuracy
Objectivity or Bias
Coverage
Consensus
Design
Relevancy

Question the Credibility of Sources

Purpose: Learn to critically analyze claims and to question the credibility of sources. If searching through multiple research tools (e.g., catalog vs. databases), understand differences in content in and search strategies for these different tools.

Assignment: Find an article in a non-credible publication such as The National Enquirer. Then research the topic of the article in an attempt to support or refute the claims made in the article. Search online databases, the library catalog, and/or the Internet. Document your research – both

what you were able to find and what you were unable to find. Indicate what evidence you uncovered, and from what source. Finally, give an overall assessment of the article’s credibility.

Save the Citation Information

Review your sources to make sure they’re authoritative, current, objective, accurate, complete in their coverage, relevant, and scholarly. Print or save the citation information for each source that meets the evaluative criteria. You will need it to prepare your works cited/reference list.

Scholarly/ Non-Scholarly Evaluation

Skim and scan the articles to answer the following questions. You will not need to read these articles thoroughly or understand them intensely to be able to answer these questions reasonably. Jot quick notes about the sources you are reviewing in responding to these questions. You will use these notes to refer when discussing later.

Article A: __________________________________________________________________

Who wrote this article? What credentials does the author have?

Who is the audience for this article? What kind of publication was this article likely published in?

Describe characteristics of the article that tell us about the writer of this article.

What features does this article contain that give you clues about its credibility?

For what purpose might this article be used?

Article B: __________________________________________________________________

Who wrote this article? What credentials does the author have?

Who is the audience for this article? What kind of publication was this article likely published in?

Describe characteristics of the article that tell us about the writer of this article.

What features does this article contain that give you clues about its credibility?

For what purpose might this article be used?