Evaluating Web SitesEvaluating Web Sites

It’s on the web…but is it true?It’s on the web…but is it true?

Nowadays, most students rely Nowadays, most students rely heavily on the Internet for research heavily on the Internet for research paperspapers

Fewer students are using books, Fewer students are using books, journals and magazinesjournals and magazines

This causes a few issuesThis causes a few issues

Most academic books and journals Most academic books and journals are put through rigorous examination are put through rigorous examination for accuracy for accuracy

Generally, most major media outlets Generally, most major media outlets place a strong emphasis on fact place a strong emphasis on fact checkingchecking

There are no such guarantees on the There are no such guarantees on the webweb

Some websites are excellent sources Some websites are excellent sources of legitimate research informationof legitimate research information

Some are clearly published by crazy Some are clearly published by crazy people people

With others, it’s more difficult to spot With others, it’s more difficult to spot sources of bias, mistakes, or sources of bias, mistakes, or omissionsomissions

Some websites are published by Some websites are published by prestigious universities, media prestigious universities, media outlets, and institutionsoutlets, and institutions

Some are published by lonely people Some are published by lonely people from their own basementsfrom their own basements

The two are not equally valid for a The two are not equally valid for a research paperresearch paper

So… Is it Good?So… Is it Good?

DO NOT… Simply go to Google and DO NOT… Simply go to Google and use the first three sites you see at use the first three sites you see at the top of the page. the top of the page.

The fact that a website is atop the The fact that a website is atop the list simply means it contains certain list simply means it contains certain keywordskeywords

It doesn’t mean it’s an academically It doesn’t mean it’s an academically sound websitesound website

Here is a checklist for evaluating Here is a checklist for evaluating websites websites

Five Criteria For Five Criteria For Evaluating Web Evaluating Web

PagesPages

List of Criteria List of Criteria

1.1. Accuracy of Web Documents Accuracy of Web Documents

2.2. Authority of Web DocumentsAuthority of Web Documents

3.3. Objectivity of Web DocumentsObjectivity of Web Documents

4.4. Currency of Web Documents Currency of Web Documents

5.5. Coverage of the Web Documents Coverage of the Web Documents

AccuracyAccuracyQuestions to ask:Questions to ask: Who wrote the page and can you Who wrote the page and can you

contact him or her? contact him or her? What is the purpose of the document What is the purpose of the document

and why was it produced? and why was it produced? Is this person qualified to write this Is this person qualified to write this

document? document?

AccuracyAccuracy

Steps to take:Steps to take:

Make sure author provides e-mail or Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number. a contact address/phone number.

Know the distinction between author Know the distinction between author and Webmaster. and Webmaster.

AuthorityAuthority

Questions to ask:Questions to ask:

Who published the document and is Who published the document and is it separate from the "Webmaster?" it separate from the "Webmaster?"

Check the domain of the document, Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this what institution publishes this document? document?

Does the publisher list his or her Does the publisher list his or her qualifications? qualifications?

AuthorityAuthority

Further steps:Further steps:

What credentials are listed for the What credentials are listed for the authors)? authors)?

Where is the document published? Where is the document published? Check URL domain. Check URL domain.

ObjectivityObjectivity

Questions to ask: Questions to ask:

What goals/objectives does this page What goals/objectives does this page meet? meet?

How detailed is the information? How detailed is the information? What opinions (if any) are expressed What opinions (if any) are expressed

by the author? by the author?

ObjectivityObjectivity

Determine if page is a mask for Determine if page is a mask for advertising or a political group; if so advertising or a political group; if so information might be biased. information might be biased.

View any Web page as you would an View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask infomercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for yourself why was this written and for whom? whom?

CurrencyCurrency

Questions to ask: Questions to ask:

When was it produced? When was it produced? When was it updated? When was it updated? How up-to-date are the links (if any)? How up-to-date are the links (if any)?

CurrencyCurrency

How many dead links are on the How many dead links are on the page? page?

Are the links current or updated Are the links current or updated regularly? regularly?

Is the information on the page Is the information on the page outdated? outdated?

Coverage Coverage

Questions to ask:Questions to ask:

Are the links (if any) evaluated and Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents' do they complement the documents' theme? theme?

Is it all images or a balance of text Is it all images or a balance of text and images? and images?

Is the information presented cited Is the information presented cited correctly? correctly?

TaskTask

Choose one of the following poets:Choose one of the following poets: Langston HughesLangston Hughes TS EliotTS Eliot Al PurdyAl Purdy Maya AngelouMaya Angelou Emily DickinsonEmily Dickinson Robert FrostRobert Frost ________ (A poet of your choice)________ (A poet of your choice)

Use three different search engines to Use three different search engines to find three different websites about find three different websites about the poetthe poet

Subject the three sites to the Subject the three sites to the checklistchecklist

Identify which site you think is the Identify which site you think is the best source for a research paperbest source for a research paper

Explain your choiceExplain your choice

Sources Sources

http://http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/wwww.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/webcrit.htmlebcrit.html