Evaluating Websites

Why is it so important to evaluate websites ? Think about these differences… Print Books or Magazine Articles  Checked for accuracy  Author is known  Copyright date is available  Selected by Librarian Internet Websites  User must check for accuracy  Author often not identified  Date often missing  Anyone can publish a website on the World Wide Web

Since we use the Internet for research we need to know: 1.Is the website trustworthy (reliable)? 2.What was the publisher’s purpose for posting the website on the Internet? 3.Is the author of the information on the website an expert? 4.How does it compare to other websites?

To use or not – that is the question! How do you decide whether or not a website will be useful for your research? Here are some questions to guide you….

Scope: Is the information useful to me? Relevant –Does the information directly relate to my topic or help to answer my research questions? Reading Level –Can I understand the information? Unique –What does this website offer that is not found elsewhere?

Is the source reliable? Purpose –What is the purpose/objective of the website? Public service? To educate? To sway opinion? To sell products? Who (what organization) sponsored the website? Advertising –Is the information free of advertising? Bias –Is the point of view balanced? –Is the information based on fact? Opinion? Prejudice? –Are both sides of an issue presented?

Credible: Is the author an expert? Can I find the author’s name? Is there information about the author? Is there a way to contact the author if I have questions about the site? What clues do I have that the author is an expert on the subject?

Look for credibility clues Words and phrases to look for: –About us, Who Am I, FAQs, Our Staff, For More Company Information, Profiles, Home

Is the information accurate? Is the information error-free, including grammar, spelling, and typing errors? Is there a bibliography or a list of other resource links so the information can be checked in another source?

Date: What is the date of the information? Can I tell when the website was updated? If so, when was the last update? Have the links been kept current? Is the information new enough to be reliable?

Now-let’s put it all together! Just because something is on the Internet, that doesn’t mean it is true or factual! The first website you find might not be the best one for you to use. You have to evaluate and compare websites to find the best information for you! Good luck!

Why??? Think about these… An island where dogs can roam free. The Pacific Northwest tree octopus