Website Evaluation
Why should you evaluate websites?
Anyone with a computer and internet can put up a webpage. You do not know who they are, or if they are qualified to talk about the subject you are researching. Most info on the web is unmonitored and unregulated which means there is no quality control. Before you use a website, look to see who is sponsoring the page. If you can't figure out who has produced it, don't use it.
Accuracy
- Almost anyone can publish on the World Wide Web.
- Editors and “fact checkers" are not always used to verify site information.
- Links are not necessarily as reliable as the information on the original web page.
- Accuracy is not ensured since web standards are not fully developed.
- Not always possible to determine author of a website.
- Even when an author is listed, qualifications may not be provided.
- The author’s perspective is not known and this can lead to information that is skewed and not necessarily accurate.
Website Evaluation Resources
There are lots of acronyms out there to help make this process easier to remember here are a few:
RADCAB (Relevancy, Appropriateness, Detail, Currency, Authority, Bias) Evaluation Rubric
5 Criteria for Website Evaluation (Cornell Univ) (Accuracy, Authority, Objectivity, Currency & Coverage)
Summary of The CARS Checklist for Research Source Evaluation
Credibility
trustworthy source, author’s credentials, evidence of quality control, known or respected authority, organizational support.
Goal: an authoritative source, one that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.
Accuracy
up to date, factual, detailed, exact, comprehensive, audience and purpose reflect intentions of completeness and accuracy.
Goal: a source that is correct today (not yesterday), a source that gives the whole truth.
Reasonableness
fair, balanced, objective, reasoned, no conflict of interest, absence of fallacies or slanted tone.
Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably, concerned with the truth.
Support
listed sources, contact information, available corroboration, claims supported, documentation supplied.
Goal: a source that provides convincing evidence for the claims made, a source you can triangulate (find at least two other sources that support it).
RADCAB (Relevancy, Appropriateness, Detail, Currency, Authority, Bias) Evaluation Rubric
5 Criteria for Website Evaluation (Cornell Univ) (Accuracy, Authority, Objectivity, Currency & Coverage)
Summary of The CARS Checklist for Research Source Evaluation
Credibility
trustworthy source, author’s credentials, evidence of quality control, known or respected authority, organizational support.
Goal: an authoritative source, one that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.
Accuracy
up to date, factual, detailed, exact, comprehensive, audience and purpose reflect intentions of completeness and accuracy.
Goal: a source that is correct today (not yesterday), a source that gives the whole truth.
Reasonableness
fair, balanced, objective, reasoned, no conflict of interest, absence of fallacies or slanted tone.
Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably, concerned with the truth.
Support
listed sources, contact information, available corroboration, claims supported, documentation supplied.
Goal: a source that provides convincing evidence for the claims made, a source you can triangulate (find at least two other sources that support it).
Web Hoaxes
With millions of new websites appearing daily throughout the Internet, it is difficult to decipher which ones are credible. You must carefully evaluate the sites to avoid inaccuracy in your research and reports. Check these sources for tips and help in identifying hoaxes on the Internet.
Can You Spot a Hoax?Here are some fake websites along with some "real" ones. For some it's easy to see they are fake. On others, it ma be hard to tell.
Medline Plus CNN Buy an Ancestor Online Dog Beach Aids Facts British Stick Insects Aluminum Deflector Beanies The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency Ban DHMO California's velcro challenge Historic Killer Tornado Google Job Opportunities History of Fischer Price Airlines Save the Nortwest Tree Octopus Mankato, MN your vacation destination Moonbeam Travel Enterprises Dog Island Pets or Food Bonsai Kitten Google's PigeonRank Technology Square Watermelons The Jackalope Conspiracy Black and White Twins Male Pregnancy The Ova Prima Foundation Institute for Historical Review (blocked on campus) MartinLutherKing.org (blocked on campus) |
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