Internet Research Evaluating Information

People are seeking information Statistics show steady increases each year in the number of people using the Internet to seek information. They seek information on hugely important subjects, from health to voting to investing their money.

People are making decisions People then are using that information to make decisions. They are making decisions about vacations, health, work, travel, voting and other subjects -- all based on what they find on the Internet.

Evaluation is crucial So people are finding information from the Internet and making important decisions. But what if the information is wrong? Evaluation is crucial.

Dangers include: Outdated information Inaccuracies and errors Hate sites and malicious “misinformation” Disguised marketing at product sites Biased opinions portrayed as fact

A Google search for: Cancer will get you some drug and pharmacy sites Nutrition will get you some food and industry sites Martin Luther King will get you some racist sites Investing will get you some stock broker sites

Criteria for Evaluation: SCOPE Five criteria can help you evaluate information on the Internet S ignatory: who is the publisher? C urrency: is the site updated and timely? O bjective: is the site opinionated, biased? P urpose: what is the site’s purpose? E vidence: is the site accurate, verified?

Signatory Is the author or publisher clearly named on the site? What are the author’s qualifications for writing or posting the site? Does the author provide biographical experience? Is the author an authority?

Currency Is the information timely? Does the content of the work seem up-to- date? Is the publication date clearly indicated?

Objective How objective is the information? Is the information presented with bias or a strong point of view? To what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience?

Purpose What type of page is it? What is the purpose of the site? What are the goals or aims? To inform? To convince you? To sell you a product? Types of Page Advocacy Business/Marketing Informational News Personal Entertainment

Evidence How accurate does the information appear the site? Is their evidence presented? Does the information or coverage seem complete? Are there references?

Caveat Emptor “Let the buyer beware” Information is readily available on the Internet. It is up to the buyer – or user – to check that information. Use the SCOPE criteria to evaluate information on the Internet