The Web offers a wealth of
information, but not all of it is equally accurate or reliable. Unfortunately
there is no easy checklist to consult to see if a Web page is credible. As with
all information resources, the usefulness of the information may depend on what
was needed in the first place. If you're using a Web-based source for an
academic research paper, you'll need to evaluate and cite the source carefully.
§
Is the author of the
page clearly identified? What are his or her credentials for writing on this
topic?
§
Is the author affiliated
with an organization? What is the reputation of that organization?
§
Is there a link back to
the organization's page or some other way to contact the organization and/or
verify its credibility? (address, phone number, e-mail address?)
§
Who
publishes and/or is responsible for the website itself? Who has registered the
URL? more
info
Think about these
questions as you look at the following sites:
Sociological Research
Online | Social costs
of smoking | Holocaust
revision
§
Are the purpose and
objectives of the page clear?
§
Is it geared to a
particular audience or level of expertise?
§
Is the primary purpose
to provide information? to sell a product? to make a political point? to have
fun? to parody a person or organization or idea?
§
Is it a comprehensive
resource or does it focus on a narrow range of information? Is it clear about
this focus?
§
If it's an information
database, are the dates of coverage clear and appropriate to your needs? Is it
easy to search? Does it present information in a usable format?
§
If the page is interactive
(a database or simulation, for instance), does it effectively present the
information in a usable format?
Think about these
questions as you look at the following sites:
Addictive
Behaviors | Melatonin
| Dihydrogen
Monoxide Research Division
§
Is the page part of an
edited or peer-reviewed publication?
§
Does the content of the
page convey the amount, depth, and significance of the evidence being
presented? Are the arguments persuasive?
§
Can factual information
be verified through footnotes or bibliographies to other credible sources?
§
Has the site been
evaluated by one of the Web subject indexes, a rating service or a library? If
so, can you tell what criteria they used?
§
Did you find this source
using an internet search engines such as Google or Yahoo? They neither select
the best pages nor filter out questionable ones, so you need to evaluate the
choices carefully. They also may not always have the most recent version of the
page.
§
Based on what you
already know about the subject (or have checked from other sources), does this
information seem credible?
§
Are there obvious typos
or misspelled words or other signs of sloppiness?
Think about these
questions as you look at the following sites:
Pediatrics | Male Pregnancy | Google Announces Plan To
Destroy All Information It Can't Index
§
Is it clear when the
information was published?
§
When was it last
updated?
§
Is this the most recent
version?
§
Are there any
indications that an attempt is made to keep the pages current?
§
If there are links to
other Web pages, are they current?
Think about these questions as you look at the
following sites:
CNN
| Hatecrime Stats
§
Is the source of any
factual information clearly stated?
§
Are the source, scope
and date of any statistics clearly labeled?
§
Is it clear whether or
not the information as been excerpted from a larger piece?
§
Is there a way to tell
if this is the most recent version of a particular piece?
§
Does the page rely on
photographic images to make a point? If so, be aware that digital images can be
easily manipulated.
Think about these
questions as you look at the following sites:
Domestic Violence Stats
| Godzilla at SSU
| Image Quiz:
Real or Fake?
§
Does the page display a
particular bias or perspective? Is it clear and forthcoming about its view of
the subject? Does it use inflammatory or provocative language?
§
If the page contains
advertising, are the ads clearly distinguishable from the content?
§
Is any conflict of
interest discernable between content and advertising?
Think about these
questions as you look at the following sites:
The Nation | National Review
