Let’s

talk about resources that you definitely know how to

find…

Websites



Think of the following questions:


Why is it important to evaluate websites?

What do you look for in a “good” website?

What would make you think a website is not
trustworthy?
The Internet as a Source of
Information:
•  Be systematic and critical when choosing sources because
it can be difficult to decide if websites are reliable.
•  Examples of reliable websites are those constructed by
educational or governmental institutions.
•  You can recognize them by the use of the following in
their web address:
à .ac and .edu refer to academic websites.
à .gov refers to government websites.

Other websites may have a commercial interest and can
be recognized as follows: .com and .co.
 Analyzing Websites:
Title: What is the name of the text?

Authority: Who [or what organization] is •  These questions should help

responsible for the website? you critically analyze the
Date/Currency: When was the most websites you encounter.
recent update?
•  If you cannot find answers to
Content: What is the text about? How
these questions, then you
useful is it for your purpose?
should not rely on the source.
Accuracy/Reliability: Dows the
information appear to be accurate, to
the best of your knowledge? Are there
references to other sources? Are there
links to other sources?
Audience: Who is the intended reader?
How to Evaluate Internet Resources

•  Currency

•  Relevance

•  Authority

•  Accuracy

•  Purpose
 Currency: Time of Info

•  When was the information published or posted?

•  Has the information been revised or updated?

•  Is the information current or out-of date for your

topic?

•  Are the links functional?

 Relevance: The Importance of the Info to Your Needs

•  Does the information relate to your topic or answer your

question?

•  Who is the intended audience?

•  Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too

elementary or advanced for your needs)?

•  Have you looked at a variety of sources before

determining this is one you will use?
 Authority: Who is the Source of the Info?

•  Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?

•  Are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations

given? If yes, what are they?

•  What are the author's qualifications to write on the topic?

•  Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail

address?

•  Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?

examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net


 Accuracy:
How Reliable, Truthful, or Correct is this Info?

•  Where does the information come from?

•  Is the information supported by evidence?

•  Has the information been reviewed or refereed?

•  Can you verify any of the information in another source or from

personal knowledge?

•  Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?

•  Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?

 Purpose: Why does the information exist?

•  What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach?

sell? entertain? persuade?

•  Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose

clear?

•  Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?

•  Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?

•  Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious,

institutional, or personal biases?
 Wikipedia: Why do your instructors say NO?

•  Articles may be heavily biased, incomplete, or vandalized.

•  May contain obvious oversights or omissions.
•  Many contributors do not cite their sources.
•  Bibliographies are frequently incomplete or out-of-date.
•  Credentials of authors vary.
•  Continually edited - >100,000 edits/day.
•  Can propagate misinformation.
 Wikipedia: How to use it as a tool

•  Useful for background information.

•  Contains many viable links and references.
•  Excels in topics on current events, popular culture,
emerging technology, and obscure subjects.
•  DON’T CITE IT! Cite sources it links to, if you find them
to be credible, accurate, useful, etc.