Research Guides: CMP-125 (Titus, Spring 2011): Web Evaluation

Internet Subject Directories

The big advantage to using the selected Internet subject directories is that the evaluation of the sites has been done for you by others. Many high quality web sites are included in these directories.

The following are some reputable Internet subject directorie:

ipl2 http://www.ipl.org/

INFOMINE http://infomine.ucr.edu

Open Directory Project http://www.dmoz.org/

Criteria for Evaluation

ANYONE can publish on the Web! What you see are a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Evaluate each website critically before using the information for your research.

Use these 5 criteria to evaluate the information you find on a website.

Authority

Who is the author?
Is the author an expert on the subject?
Can you verify the author's credentials?

Accuracy

Unlike traditional information sources where editors or fact checkers are involved, there are no rules on the web.

Are there obvious errors in grammar or spelling?
Are there references provided for facts presented?
Can you verify the facts presented using other sources?

Objectivity

The purpose of a website is usually not clearly stated.

Numerous websites are sponsored by those who want to sway opinion, advertise, or just have fun.

Is the information biased or appear to be promoting a specific political, religious, ideololgical viewpoint?
Are both sides of a controversial issue presented?

Currency

Often no dates are provided, or if they are it is not always clear if they refer to when the site was first published or last revised.

Is there a date confirming when the information was published?
When was the website last revised or updated?
Do the links work?

Coverage

Coverage of a subject can vary depending on the author's intent. It may be brief or more in depth with links to references. It may actually be a hoax or a parody.