Date post: | 16-Jan-2016 |
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Evaluating WebsitesSorting out all the CRAAP on the internet
Why Evaluate?
• Anyone can create a website• Their “facts” don’t have to be true• No one monitors the content on the internet• There are millions of websites available, both good and
bad
When Evaluating a Website…
• Think critically • Use your common sense!• Compare multiple sources• ALWAYS cite your sources
How to Sort Out the CRAAP
• Currency
• Relevance
• Authority
• Accuracy
• Purpose
Currency
• When was the page last updated?• This information is often difficult to find or not available • How current are the links? Are some links broken?• How sophisticated is the website? (Just text? Links?
Includes pictures/video?)
Relevance
• What topics are covered?• Are they relevant to your topic?• How in depth is the material?• Does the site have links for further information?• Does the site have enough information to research?
Authority
• Is there an author?• If so, is this person/group credible?• Look for a header or footer that shows affiliation• Look at the URL http://www.fns.usda.gov• Look at the domain name .gov .edu .org .net .com
• It is often hard to determine a website’s authorship• Are there references/sources listed?• Remember: Anyone can post anything on the web!
Top Level Domains
• .edu = higher education (colleges)• .k-12 = elementary and secondary schools• .com = commercial• .gov = government agency• .mil = military• .org = nonprofit organization• .net = computer network
Accuracy
• Is the information reliable and error-free?• Is there an editor or someone who verifies the facts?
(this is often difficult to determine)• Currently, there are no standards in place to check for
website accuracy.• This is the most difficult part of CRAAP to determine.
Purpose
• Is the website biased?• Is the website designed to sway opinion?• Is there advertising on the site?
• http://www.fns.usda.gov/slp
• http://fedupwithlunch.com/
• http://www.ecoliteracy.org/downloads/rethinking-school-lunch-guide
What Else Should I Look For?
• A lot of pop-ups and obnoxious ads• Anyone selling something (including a subscription to the
website)• The author is trying to persuade you to see their point of
view• Unrealistic promises (You’ll make millions your first
week!)
Reliable or CRAAP?• http://www.timetravelfund.com/
• http://www.stephenswork.com/funkyshoes/index.html
• http://www.si.edu/
• http://www.stearns.org/fun/afdb/afdb.html
• http://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/
• http://www.treasury.gov/auctions/irs/
• http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/bread.html
• http://rythospital.com/
• http://havidol.com/index.php