Evaluating Internet Resources amended 2/08

Instruction Office

Lovejoy Library

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Techniques and questions to ask when using the internet for research:

• Train your eye to look to employ a series of techniques that will assist in locating what you need

• Train your mind to think critically by asking a series of questions that will help you decide if the information can be trusted.

What is the internet good for?

• Quick facts (contact info, maps)• Social networking (myspace, facebook,

blogs, wikis)• Shopping!• Current news

Don’t use the internet…

• For locating scholarly articles– These are often found on the “deep web” in

databases not commonly found using a search engine such as Google.

• As your only research tool– Use books, journals and subscription

databases when conducting research.

Guidelines for Evaluating Web Sites

• “Author”ity

• Accuracy

• Objectivity

• Currency

• Coverage & Comparability• Maintenance & Design

Group work!