By: Tiffy Meyer

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Evaluating Internet Web Sites

• By Tiffy Meyer

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Table of contents

• Checklist for Evaluating Web Sites
• Objective Reasoning
• Coverage
• Questions to ask

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Content

• Real, possibly unique, useful, accurate
  information
• Purpose and scope are stated
• Evidence of bias
• Intended audience
• Source and date of information is stated
• information is updated as necessary
• Presented without spelling, grammar or
  typographical errors

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Authority

• Credentials of author/developer are given or
  known
• Institutional affiliation and/or institutional
  sponsorship is stated
• Ability to contact author/developer and verify
  legitimacy

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Organization/ presentation

• Clear, logical, effective design
• Graphics enhance content rather than distract
• Easy to navigate within site

6
Searchability and Accessibility

• Search mechanism is clearly described and easy to
  use
• Reasonably dependable and quick access
• Links are relevant and work
• cost or registration requirements are clearly
  stated

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Comparability

• Uniqueness
• Duplicates or complements print resources
• Duplicates or complements other web sites
• Appropriateness of format

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Objective Reasoning

• Is the information covered fact, opinion, or
  propaganda? Its not easy to separate fact from
  opinion
• Does the information appear to be valid and
  well-researched, note errors or omissions
• Is the authors point of view objective and
  impartial? Is the language free of
  emotion-rousing words and bias?

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Coverage

• Does the work update other sources
• Is the material primary or secondary in nature
• Choose both primary and secondary sources when
  you have the opportunity

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Questions to ask
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• Are the facts and information presented accurate?
• How are they documented?
• Are they well researched?
• Is the information current?
• Is the information biased?

• Can you tell who the authors are?
• Do they list their credentials?
• What is the scope of the site?
• Are links provided to other sites?
• When was the information updated?

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Bibliography

• Descay, Don E Evaluating Internet Based
  Information 1995-99 Online Internet Available
  http//lme.mankato.msus.edu/class/629/cred.html
• Emmory, George Checklist for Evaluating Web
  Sites 1997 Online Internet Available
  http//www.canisius.edu/canhp/canlib/webcrit.htm
• Engle, Michael How to Critically Analyze
  Information Sources 1999 online Internet
  Available http//www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/re
  search/skill26.htm