Evaluting Websites
Since anyone can create a website, it's important to evaluate it for credibility and authority before you use it for research. The questions
below provide some guidelines but you must think critically and most of all, DON'T TRUST EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET!
Who made the site?.
1. Who made the website? (look for an About Us button)
2. Is there a way to contact the person? email or address?
3. Do you think the author is qualified to write on the subject? Is he/she an expert?
4. Is there a link to information about the author or organization?
Can you trust the information?
1. Is the site error free? If there are spelling or grammar mistakes, there's a good chance it's not a good site to trust.
2. Is the site affiliated with a reputable organization such as museum, college or library?
What is the purpose of the site?
1. Why did the author create the site? to inform? to teach? to try to sell you something? to persuade you?
2. Is the information objective or biased?
When was the site updated?
1. Was the site updated fairly recently? Some sites require more updating than others, but it's not a good sign if links are not working or information is outdated.
below provide some guidelines but you must think critically and most of all, DON'T TRUST EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET!
Who made the site?.
1. Who made the website? (look for an About Us button)
2. Is there a way to contact the person? email or address?
3. Do you think the author is qualified to write on the subject? Is he/she an expert?
4. Is there a link to information about the author or organization?
Can you trust the information?
1. Is the site error free? If there are spelling or grammar mistakes, there's a good chance it's not a good site to trust.
2. Is the site affiliated with a reputable organization such as museum, college or library?
What is the purpose of the site?
1. Why did the author create the site? to inform? to teach? to try to sell you something? to persuade you?
2. Is the information objective or biased?
When was the site updated?
1. Was the site updated fairly recently? Some sites require more updating than others, but it's not a good sign if links are not working or information is outdated.
Check out these Youtube videos on website evaluation:
Csufpolkalibrary. "Evalutaing Websites." 29 August 2008. YouTube. 2 March 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBe4WKcQzVI&NR=1
Csufpolkalibrary. "Evalutaing Websites." 29 August 2008. YouTube. 2 March 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBe4WKcQzVI&NR=1
Occclibrary. "NEW Evalutaing Websites." 8 January 2011. YouTube. 2 March 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba9-DnferiQ
