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Web for research

Sorting the gems from the junk.

Learning to use the internet critically

The internet is fantastic….so much information out there. However, when you use the internet for research be careful and make sure you are using the right sites for the information you need.

Criteria for evaluating websites

 

Purpose…..the main aim and purpose of the site. This should be very clear as soon as you open the site. Look at the URL, websites can be:

  • Commercial (.com)
  • Informative
  • Educational (.edu…as in this site)
  • Government (.gov)
  • ~ sometimes a personal site. The tilde (this ~) in the URL (eg. ninemsngroups)
  • .org (charitable organisation or other lobby group)

Authority….what authority does the author of the site have?

  • Who is the author, what are his or her qualifications or credentials, does he or she have authority to speak on the subject? How do we know?
  • Is there a way to reach the author? (eg email contact)
  • Are there any advertisments on the site? (eg. google ads or other banner type advertisments?) What might this mean if there are??

Objectivity.

  • Does the content reflect bias?

  • Is this bias explicit or is it hidden?

  • Does the identity of the author or sponsors suggest bias?

  • If there is bias, does this have an influence on the usefullness of the information?

Currency

  • Is the information on the page up to date?
  • Does it indicate when the site or page was last updated?
  • Do all the links work?

Responsibility.

  • Do the authors give credit for information used?
  • Is there a reference list?

Clarity…how clearly is the information presented?

  • Is the information clearly presented?
  • Is the text clear and easy to read? (font size and style) Are paragraphs formatted correctly? Is there too much text?
  • Do the graphics support the content or distract from it?
  • Are the pages well organized (balance between text and graphics)

Accessibility….Is the site easy to use?

  • Can you get into the site?
  • Does the site load quickly?
  • Is the navigation easy to follow?
  • Can you get to the home page from every page in the site?
  • Do you have to install special plug ins to view some content?

References: http://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/research/evaluating_web.html