What Is a Scholarly Website?

Is the Website Trustworthy? Why is this site here? Why do I have free access to this site? Why do the creators want me to see this site?

Is It Trustworthy? Who sponsors this site? Is the site attempting to sell.... a product? promote an idea? advocate a political agenda?

Who’s Behind the Website? Who pays for the site? Who maintains the site? Who is the content provider?

Who Is Behind the Website? Check to see if site provides an identifying link: “About Us” “Who We Are” “Mission Statement” Example:

Parts of a Web address (URL) Domain name Top level domain files

Identify the Sponsor Truncate the URL to the domain name:

Types of Web Sites Personal (.com,.edu,.net) Commercial (.com,.org) Advocacy (.org,.com) Non-profits (.org,.edu) Scholarly/educational (.edu, org) Popular press (.com,.org) Proprietary (.com,.edu,.org,.net) Governmental (.gov,.mil)

Evaluating Web Content

Types of Disinformation Hoaxes/Urban Legends Counterfeits Propaganda

Unethical Persuasion “Other side” doesn’t exist or distorts position Simplifies complex problems Appeals to emotions/fears Omits or glosses over evidence

Ethical Persuasion Respects readers’ right to differ Doesn’t ignore “other side” Argues with reason and logic Supports with outside evidence

Know Your Personal Biases Do I accept this claim at face value? What is my reaction to this this claim based on? Do I look at this claim as “right/wrong” or “good/bad” ?

Who is the Content Provider? Check credentials of author (content provider): Listedin library databases? Academic Search Elite Discussed on the Internet? Google the author’s name

Look to the Evidence Should I believe the author’s statements?.

Look to the Evidence What makes the statement true? Is it backed-up by cited evidence?

Unsupported statements In 2005, Americans spent $7.7 billion on cosmetic surgery, with 6.9 million cosmetic procedures performed despite any risks or dangers of cosmetic surgery.

Supported Statements Sarwer, D. “Physical Appearance & Cosmetic Medical Treatments: Socio-Cultural Influences.”Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2 (2004): (33)

Supported Statements In 2005, Americans spent approximately $8 billion on surgeons’ fees for cosmetic medical treatments (ASAPS, 2006). Clearly, Americans are comfortable spending large amounts of money to enhance their outward appearances.

Supported Statements References American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank—2005 statistics. New York, NY: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: 2006.

Summary Who’s behind the site? Why does the site exist? What are your personal biases? Suspend judgment until you weigh the evidence.