Bright Ideas: Internet Research National History Day Workshop Herbert Hoover Presidential Library

Evaluating Webpages WHY is it important to evaluate Internet resources? ANYONE can "publish" information on the Internet. Unlike traditional print resources, web resources rarely have editors or academic reviewers. No standards exist to ensure accuracy on the World Wide Web.

Evaluating Webpages Ask these three questions: Author - WHO wrote the web page? Bias - WHAT is the author's point of view? Currency - IS this current or out-of-date?

WHO wrote the web page? Who is the author? Is there any link that provides more information about this person - their profession, education, titles, etc.? Is the author an authority on the subject? Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

WHO wrote the web page? But what if there is no author? What organization or group created the webpage?.com,.gov,.org,.mil Example 1 Example 2

WHAT is the author's point of view? Is the Web page sponsored by a corporation that wants to sell you something? Who is the author and are they trying to sway your opinion? Is the Web page owner an organization looking to present their point of view on an issue? Example 1 Example 2

IS this current or out-of-date? Is the document dated? Is the content of the work current or up-to-date? Are there links to older or newer information? Are the links up-to-date? Do the hyperlinks take you to "Not Found" pages? Example 1 Example 2

Review Author - WHO wrote the web page? Bias - WHAT is the author's point of view? Currency - IS this current or out- of-date?

The MOST IMPORTANT question you should ask when conducting any historical research This applies to any source: books, websites, documents, photos, videos, sound recordings...

The MOST IMPORTANT question you should ask when conducting any historical research WHY is this important?

Getting Started

Acknowlegements Some examples borrowed from: EVALUATING INTERNET SITES 101!, written by Carol Anne Germain and Laura Horn. University Libraries, University at Albany