Evaluating Internet Resources
Resources on the Internet may be compared to a huge set of electronic filing cabinets into which just about anything can be placed. This is in contrast to the printed resources that we use daily. For example, most journal articles go through an editing process that helps control the quality (to maintain the reputation of the journal) and quantity (to control publishing costs) of the information presented. Since the quality of the huge amount of information available on the internet varies widely, the user must take care to evaluate these resources. Use the following criteria to evaluate Internet resources. If you are unable to answer these questions, ask for help at the Reference Desk or look for alternative sources of information.
WEB DOCUMENT ELEMENTS
What is the URL of the document?When was the web document written or revised? (Try viewing the document source/info.)How would you cite this document as a reference? (See the guide Citing Internet Resources) AUTHOR OF WEB DOCUMENT
- Who is the author/writer?
- What are the author's qualifications to write on this topic?
(e.g., training, personal or professional experience, education, or position)
- Why do you think the author created this web document?
(e.g., inform, persuade, "show off", "sound off", etc.)
- What do the links from this web document to other sites tell you about the thought and care the author used in acknowledging other relevant web sites (like a bibliography)?
- Based on this information, do you consider this author reliable?
HOME PAGE ON WHICH THE WEB DOCUMENT RESIDES
- What is the name of the internet sponsor or institutiuon on which the web document resides?
- Based on this information, do you percieve any potential bias?
FINAL EVALUATION
- What makes the information on this web document unique?
- Do you think that a more "trustworthy" document exists on this topic in a print resource?
- Do you have any doubts about the quality of the information on this web document?
- Have you considered the alternatives of using the library collection or asking for assistance?
Evaluating Internet Resources
| Created:March 1996, Jeff Beck |
| Updated: August/September 2001, JK |
| Comments: beckj@wabash.edu |
| URL: http://www.wabash.edu/library/libgui/evaint.htm |
|
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