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Evaluating Web Sites
The World Wide Web is rich
with information to help you research almost any topic. However, not
all of the information you find there is useful or reliable. As you use the
Internet
for research it is important that you evaluate the information that you
find. Here are some questions you should answer about each website you locate.
If you can answer "YES" to most of the questions, then you have probably
found a site of value.
Authority
Consider the Source!
Remember, anyone can publish a website!
- Can you find the author's name on the article?
- Does the page include biographical information about the author?
- Does the author's education and/or experience qualify him to write the article?
- Does the site have a sponsor (.org), and if so, can you determine the organization's goals and values?
- Is the page affiliated
with an education site (.edu), or the federal government (.gov)
or a reputable organization (.org)?
- Does the author cite the sources used in the research?
Purpose & Point
of View
Just because it's online
doesn't mean it's true!
- Are
the purpose and objectives of the document clearly stated?
- Does the page provide
information that cannot be found in other sources?
- Is the page intended
for your age and education level?
- Does the author present
both sides of issues?
- Is the author objective?
- Does the author present
evidence to support any conclusions?
- Is the presentation
of information more important than any commercials on this site?
Currency, Accuracy, & Scope
Don't assume anything!
- Can
you determine when the document was created and most recently updated?
- Is the document based
on a print version? (An online version in not necessarily the latest one.
It may be very old information!)
- Does information appear
to be reliable and error-free?
- Are all links up-to-date
and usable?
- Is the material provided
in-depth?
- Is the site valuable
compared to other sources on the topic?
Access and Navigation
Is the site worth your
time?
- Does
the site have an acceptable loading speed?
- Is it easy to use?
- Is the site reliable
(not frequently shut-down, overloaded, or unavailable)?
- Is information on the
site organized logically?
- Does the use of graphics,
color and text make it visually appealing and easy to read?
- Is providing information
more important than fancy gimmicks on this page?
- Does the page have a
table of contents or index?
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