Evaluating the InternetEvaluating the Internet

Why is the internet (the free web) both a “good” and “bad” Why is the internet (the free web) both a “good” and “bad” place to find information for a scholarly paper?place to find information for a scholarly paper?

““Good” SourceGood” Source ““Bad” SourceBad” Source

Ask yourself: Is the Ask yourself: Is the sitesite good enough to good enough to cite?cite?

Since sites on the Since sites on the Internet are not “policed” Internet are not “policed” and reviewed by editors, and reviewed by editors, you have to become a you have to become a detective to determine detective to determine whether a site is reliable whether a site is reliable enough for your research.enough for your research.

How can you tell if you How can you tell if you are using a “good” source?are using a “good” source?

Use the 5 W’sUse the 5 W’s

–WhoWho

–WhatWhat

–WhenWhen

–WhereWhere

–WhyWhy

The first “W”: WhoThe first “W”: WhoWhat do you know about the author?What do you know about the author?

1.1. Are the author’s Are the author’s credentials, education and credentials, education and expertiseexpertise enough to assure you that the enough to assure you that the information in this source is reliable and information in this source is reliable and accurate?accurate?

2.2. If there are no credentials listed for the author, If there are no credentials listed for the author, does the site have a reliable does the site have a reliable sponsorsponsor or or publisherpublisher??

3.3. An An email addressemail address with no additional with no additional information is not sufficient for assessing the information is not sufficient for assessing the author’s credentials.author’s credentials.

What if you can’t find information What if you can’t find information about the author?about the author?

Look for clues to answer the Look for clues to answer the question question who?who?

Words and phrases to look for:Words and phrases to look for:– About us, Who Am I, FAQs, For More, About us, Who Am I, FAQs, For More,

Company Information, Profiles, Our Staff, Company Information, Profiles, Our Staff, HomeHome

Email the authorEmail the author– You can write a polite email asking for more You can write a polite email asking for more

informationinformation..

More clues . . . More clues . . . Do a link checkDo a link check– In Google or AltaVista typeIn Google or AltaVista type

Link:siteaddressLink:siteaddress

– Your results will show which other sites have Your results will show which other sites have chosen to link to this page. If respectable chosen to link to this page. If respectable institutions have linked to a site, that provides institutions have linked to a site, that provides a clue about the site’s credibility.a clue about the site’s credibility.

Does the site appear in major subject Does the site appear in major subject directories like Librarians Index to the directories like Librarians Index to the Internet (www.lii.org)?Internet (www.lii.org)?

Truncate the URLTruncate the URL

– Go from:http://www.unmuseum.org/bigfoot.htm

TO

http://www.unmuseum.org

The second “W”: WhatThe second “W”: WhatWhat is the purpose of the site and how accurate is it?What is the purpose of the site and how accurate is it?

What is the What is the purposepurpose of the site (e.g. of the site (e.g. advertising, informational, persuasive, advertising, informational, persuasive, etc.) and does that purpose fit your paper?etc.) and does that purpose fit your paper?Can the Can the accuracyaccuracy of facts, statistics and of facts, statistics and other information be verified through other other information be verified through other sources?sources?Do there appear to be Do there appear to be errorserrors on the page on the page (spelling, grammar, facts) that make this (spelling, grammar, facts) that make this site a poor choice?site a poor choice?

Looking closely at the URL can help you Looking closely at the URL can help you with the “what” question!!!with the “what” question!!!

1.1. . gov = . gov = Government SitesGovernment Sites

2.2. . edu = . edu = Educational SitesEducational Sites

3.3. . org = Organizations. org = Organizationsa.a. Example AExample A

b.b. Example BExample B

4.4. .com = Commercial Sites.com = Commercial Sitesa.a. Example AExample A

b.b. Example BExample B

5.5. .net = Network sites.net = Network sites

The third “W”: WhenThe third “W”: When

1.1. When was the site last When was the site last created or created or updatedupdated?? Undated factual and statistical Undated factual and statistical information is no better than anonymous information is no better than anonymous information; don’t use it.information; don’t use it.

2.2. Is the information Is the information current enoughcurrent enough for for your paper’s purpose?your paper’s purpose?

The fourth “W”: WhereThe fourth “W”: WhereWhere did the site get its information? Where did the site get its information? In other words, what are its sources?In other words, what are its sources?

1.1. Are there indicators of quality information Are there indicators of quality information such as a such as a list of sources, bibliography, list of sources, bibliography, related sites, additional linksrelated sites, additional links??

2.2. Are these sources Are these sources real? Reliable? real? Reliable? Credible?Credible? Can you, your teacher or Can you, your teacher or librarian verify them?librarian verify them?

The bottom line . . . The bottom line . . .

Don’t take Internet sources at face value!!!Don’t take Internet sources at face value!!!

The fifth “W”: WhyThe fifth “W”: WhyWhy should (or shouldn’t) you use this Why should (or shouldn’t) you use this

site for your scholarly research?site for your scholarly research?

Your answers to the previous questions should Your answers to the previous questions should enable you to answer the question: enable you to answer the question: Is the site Is the site good enough to cite?good enough to cite?Your teacher will evaluate your work based on Your teacher will evaluate your work based on the quality of the sources you select. Don’t settle the quality of the sources you select. Don’t settle for for good enough!!!good enough!!!Remember, the internet (free web) is NOT your Remember, the internet (free web) is NOT your only choice. Use print sources and subscription only choice. Use print sources and subscription databases since these have already been databases since these have already been evaluated for their credibility and content.evaluated for their credibility and content.