Evaluating the Internet

below are all the different ways to evaluate web sites- scroll down and see why you want to examine all these issues...

Is it Current?

When you are doing research you don't want to use a site that was created in 1996 and never updated. Not only will links have gone bad, but some if not all of the information might be out of date. A sign of a well maintained site is one that is monitored by its creator and information modified or enhanced on a regular basis.

Is it Free?

A lot of sites offer you bits of free information but charge you for getting more details or lengthy articles. When you are doing research you should not have to pay for ANYTHING. Check with a Librarian first and see if we can provide you with the same information for free using our resources.

Is it Objective?

Some sites are designed specifically to influence you one way or another about a topic. This is especially true of sites that deal with controversial issues like abortion or gun control. When you are doing research you want to make sure that a site presents a balanced and fair representation of an issue and that they do not use misleading or false data to persuade you of their argument.

Who is the Author?

The author of a web site or web page is very important when you are deciding whether or not to use a web site when doing research. Most reputable sites will list key information about the site and its creators. If a site does not provide this information examine it closely for bias or untruth. Info about an author can usually be found by looking for links that say "about this site" or "about the author". Even then, be aware that there are some individuals who misrepresent themselves on the Internet- so always use caution when reading this information.

What are the Reviews?

Try to look for sites that are suggested by reputable organizations (CNN, Government etc) or individuals. Sites that are evaluated and compiled by a librarian (Subject Guides) or a search engine (YAHOO) often meet all the criteria you are reading right now!

What is the Content?

Sometimes sites will provide you with entire reports or full newspaper articles- these are sites rich in content you can use for research. Other sites offer bits of information withouth telling you where they found it or who they are quoting. It is important to evaluate the level of content in a web site you are looking at. Data from the official government Census page will have more quality content than a site that Joe Blow created in his basement after school.


Current	Free	Objective


Author (publisher)	Reviews	Content