Evaluating Sources :::
Evaluating Web Sites
I found it on the Internet – it must be true, right? Not necessarily! Remember – anyone can say anything they want and post it on a web site. It is your responsibility to read, evaluate and verify the information you find. As you search, use these points to determine authority, objectivity, accuracy, currency, and coverage.
Primary Considerations
⇒ Who is the author of the page or what organization is sponsoring the page?
⇒ What are the qualifications of the author or organization? Are they recognized by other legitimate organizations?
⇒ Are there credible references? Where does the information come from?
⇒ Is the reporting biased? Is the information trying to convince you of one point of view?
Secondary Considerations
⇒ How current is the information
⇒ Is there contact information?
⇒ Is the information useful for my topic?
More Information on Evaluating Web Sites
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Follow the links given for each evaluation question for terrific examples of why you want to
ask this.
Kathy Schrock's ABC's of web evaluation
Widener University Evaluation Web Pages