Evaluating On-Line Sources: Checklist for Students
When deciding whether to use a source or not, you need to:
critically analyse details about a source - be suspicious recognise where to find relevant details. Using the following checklist will help you determine whether or not an on-line source is suitable.
What is the URL?
Is it a personal page or site? This is a site If it is a personal page, remember to do further Look for names in the URL, or investigation on the author. words such as ‘users’ or Personal pages may be ‘members’ opinion pieces, not necessarily based on reliable evidence. What kind of website is it? .com .net .gov .org Is the type of website .edu .au appropriate for your other ________ research? This may help you determine if the site is for profit, educational, commercial etc. Which type is most suitable for your research?
Does the reading text have Yes No
more than 1000 worlds? Authority and Currency Who is the author? Is it an individual Is there enough information individual or an _______________________ about the author or the organisation/association? (Name) organisation? If not, you may need to do Look for sections on the organisation/association some extra research about website called ‘About us’ or EdSource them. ‘Background’. This can (Name) Just an email is not usually sometimes be found at the top sufficient to determine of the page, in the side menu or reliability. at the bottom of the page. What are the author’s Over a period of more than four Remember, anyone can post credentials? decades, EdSource has established to the Internet without its reputation as a highly respected necessarily having a Look in the ‘About us’ or source of education information, reliable background in the research and analysis. It has now Evaluating On-Line Sources: checklist Ref: A389530, 0.6 Last Updated: 13/01/2022 ‘Background’ sections. Is the emerged as the pre-eminent multi- subject. Not being able to author an ‘expert’ in this media education platform for the find this information on the area? If it is an organisation state, which with over 6 million website may lead you to or association, are they well students is the largest and most question its reliability. diverse public education system in known? the nation. Which other sites discuss the HuffPost Often you can find out author/organisation? about someone’s background or Do a web search for the organisation’s information author/organisation. What do from doing a quick web people say about them? What search. However, you kinds of sites mention them? always need to be aware of the reliability of the source of the information. Which other sites use the not many links Some websites are not website? many links linked by/to any other unreliable links websites. Others are linked Use link:URL in a search mainly academic links to sites which are obviously engine to discover what other personal or commercial. pages link to the page you are This may lead you to evaluating. Copy and paste the question the reliability of URL of your website after link: the page you are (without spaces). evaluating. Is it current? (from 2019 and Yes No If you cannot find the date, onwards) you need to be suspicious of Date: November 19, 2020 when the information was What’s the date on the put on the website. This website? When was the article may also lead you to written? Look at the top or question whether the bottom of the article to find website is still being this information. It can maintained. sometimes also be found connected to the copyright information of the article or in the URL. Accuracy Is the information accurate? Yes No Most academic or scholarly work that you will use for your research will include in-text references some kind of referencing of Can the information in the Reference List/Bibliography other sources. This is to article be checked? Is there Other provide reliable evidence of proof? Look for in-text their claims. If referencing references or a Reference is not evident, or if the List/Bibliography. references are out-of-date Are there links to other sources Yes No or not reliable, you may on the same topic? need to question your Do the links work? source. Yes No Do they link to reliable sources? Yes No Check the links. Do they work? Ref: A389530, 0.6 2 of 3 Last Updated: 13/01/2022 What types of sources do they link to? Objectivity Is the information balanced? Yes No Often, pages give links to Are all sides of an issue other sites that have similar presented? If no, what is the bias? views to their own. However, a webpage that is Read the information carefully trying to present an un- and identify the different biased opinion will often arguments presented. Does the also give links to sites that author explain all sides or only offer differing views. If their opinion? there is no objectivity, it If there are links to other Yes No may lead you to question sources, do they illustrate other the evidence the author is opinions? If no, what is the bias? presenting.
Check the links. What are the
main ideas? Are they the same as the author’s or are they different? Evaluation Based on the above analysis: What is the purpose of the inform sell explain You need to consider the web-site? share argue persuade purpose of a website and other _________________ whether it is appropriate for how you are using it. Should I use it as part of my Yes No Remember, using sources research or investigation? that are not reliable or overly biased will have a negative effect on your work. If you are still unsure about your source after completing this checklist, it may be safer not to use it.
Avoiding Plagiarism: Guidelines for Students and Teachers