Evaluating Web Sources For Research
Transcript of Evaluating Web Sources For Research
Evaluating Web Evaluating Web Sources for ResearchSources for Research
Instruction for beginning MBA Instruction for beginning MBA students students
By Mahrya Carncross, Librarian Candidate, City University of Seattle Library
Association of College and Research Libraries (2003). Information Literacy Standards for Higher Education. Retrieved February 23, 2009 at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm .
Information Literacy: Skills for Information Literacy: Skills for Research SuccessResearch Success
Why Evaluate?Why Evaluate?
Make sense of excessive amounts of Make sense of excessive amounts of information found onlineinformation found online
Web content is not monitored or Web content is not monitored or universally checked for accuracyuniversally checked for accuracy
Web content is published with many Web content is published with many intentionsintentions
Develop your critical thinking skills Develop your critical thinking skills
Evaluation Criteria Evaluation Criteria
The following criteria can be used to The following criteria can be used to judge a resource’s effectivenessjudge a resource’s effectiveness– AuthorityAuthority– AccuracyAccuracy– ContentContent– CurrencyCurrency– ObjectivityObjectivity
Authority Authority
Questions: Questions: Who created the Who created the
source?source? Is the author Is the author
qualified?qualified? What else does the What else does the
publisher put out?publisher put out? Is additional Is additional
information about information about creators readily creators readily available? available?
Evaluation Techniques:Evaluation Techniques: Look for biographical Look for biographical
and publishing and publishing information at the information at the source.source.
Examine banner, “about Examine banner, “about us” and URL.us” and URL.
Conduct a web search Conduct a web search for the author and/or for the author and/or publisher.publisher.
Search library sources Search library sources for publishing history.for publishing history.
AccuracyAccuracy
Questions: Questions: Is the information Is the information
verifiable?verifiable? Are claims believable?Are claims believable? Can you find any Can you find any
errors?errors? Does the author cite Does the author cite
sources?sources?
Evaluation Techniques:Evaluation Techniques:
Consult additional Consult additional sources to verify sources to verify claims.claims.
Check bibliography, Check bibliography, references and links.references and links.
Ask an expert.Ask an expert.
ContentContent
Questions:Questions: Does the site contain Does the site contain
complete information?complete information? Does it provide you Does it provide you
with new knowledge?with new knowledge? Is the source relevant Is the source relevant
to your topic?to your topic? What does the site What does the site
seem to be missing?seem to be missing?
Evaluation Techniques:Evaluation Techniques:
Use the 5 W’s.Use the 5 W’s. Look for information Look for information
that is new and useful.that is new and useful. Consider your topic’s Consider your topic’s
boundaries.boundaries.
CurrencyCurrency
Questions:Questions: Is the information Is the information
timely? timely? When was the source When was the source
last updated?last updated? Is it regularly Is it regularly
updated?updated?
Evaluation Techniques:Evaluation Techniques:
Check citations.Check citations. Look for date of last Look for date of last
update on web pages.update on web pages. Check back frequently Check back frequently
for updates.for updates.
ObjectivityObjectivity
Questions:Questions: Why did the author Why did the author
publish the source? publish the source? Does the article reflect Does the article reflect
a particular agenda? a particular agenda? Are persuasive claims Are persuasive claims
backed by evidence?backed by evidence? Are tone and language Are tone and language
appropriate for topic?appropriate for topic?
Evaluation Techniques:Evaluation Techniques:
Determine purpose of Determine purpose of the work.the work.
Look for slant or bias.Look for slant or bias. Examine links, Examine links,
references and ads.references and ads.
Does it Add Up?Does it Add Up?
What is your overall impression of What is your overall impression of the source?the source?
Will it fill a gap in your research Will it fill a gap in your research knowledge?knowledge?
Some ExamplesSome Examples
Responsible Shopper Profile Responsible Shopper Profile
Standard & Poor's Industry Standard & Poor's Industry Profile Profile
Stanford University's Stanford University's Entrepreneurship Corner Entrepreneurship Corner
The Library is Here to Help!The Library is Here to Help!
Library > Resources by Program > Management
Library > Resources by Program > Management >How Do I?
Thank you!Thank you!