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Evaluating Web Sources
1) Make sure you are in the right place. Does this site address the topic you are researching? Did you learn anything? Was the page worth visiting? Did the site present information in a balanced manner?
2) When in doubt, do not use the information. Is the information on the site documented? Do you think it is accurate? Did authors indicate their research methods or provide any supportive evidence for their conclusions?
3) Consider the source. Who are the authors of the Web page? What gives them their expertise? By what authority do they write? Are the authors and their credentials clearly identified? Who is responsible for the site? Is this a commercial, governmental, personal, or academic Web site? From what country does it originate?
4) Know what's happening. What is the purpose of the site? Is the main purpose to inform, to persuade, or to sell you something? Is the site's text well written? Do you understand what is being said? What do you think has not been said that should be addressed?
5) Look at details. Is the site well organized? Is all the information you needed on the top page or easily found on another page within the site? Are there misspelled words or examples of poor grammar? Do the site's links work? Are they evaluated or annotated in any way? Do they send you beyond the site to other reliable sources of information? Does the site offer anything unique? Does it tell you more than you could find out in an encyclopedia? Are the graphics on the page clear and helpful or distracting and confusing?
6) Distinguish Web pages from pages found on the Web. Do you think this page was designed for the Web, or do you think it was originally something else? If it was originally something else, what something else was it?
A collection of web evaluation tools may be found at: http://mciu.org/~spjvweb/evaluating.html
Are the sites listed below places to find reputable information for scholarly research?
Oklahoma Association of Wine Producers Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency
Extra Credit Opportunity: Create your own bogus web site to be published on our class web page.
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