Evaluating Web Sites
INTENTION
WHY was the website created?
People put up web pages for many different reasons. The trustworthiness of information may be affected by the motivation of the person or group sponsoring the web page.
- What purpose does this serve? Information, entertainment, profit?
- What does the author get out of it? A laugh, a job, joy?
- What does the purpose tell you about the reliability of the information?
What OPINION does this page represent?
Every page represents somebody's opinion, but some are more opinionated than
others. It is important to be aware that the information you find is representative
of the author's point of view. Even "facts" are really "someones idea of what the facts
are." Be sure to think about whether or not you trust the information as it is presented.
- What point is emphasized by the website? Is it reasonable?
- Is the tone more reasonably objective or more fanatical?
- What is conspicuously missing (if anything)? Are there logical errors,
or issues left obviously alone for no apparent reason?
Remember, you need to get everyone's point of view. If all of your sources
represent the same opinion, you may have a problem.
RELEVANCE
WHEN was it put up?
Some fields don't change much from one week or year to the next; but for others, old information may be worthless or even damaging to your paper.
- Can you tell?
- Have they ever changed it?
- Does it matter?
RELIABILITY
WHO put up the website?
- Can you tell? Does anyone claim authorship?
- Who do they work for? What are their credentials?
- Have you ever heard of them? Name recognition is important here.
How GOOD is the information?
- How does the information fit in with what you already know?
- Is the page well-edited for spelling and grammar?
- How much does the website rely on graphics to distract you from the
text?
How WELL-DOCUMENTED is the work?
- Is there a bibliography? Do the sources seem scholarly?
- Do the links work?
- Do the links seem to be scholarly?
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