Research and Evaluation Skills

Research Skills Learning outcomes At the end of this course, the student will be able to: -Apply a selection of techniques to evaluate the reliability of websites. -Successfully find reliable websites on a variety of topics. -Analyse and critically compare texts.

Evaluating websites

Why Evaluate? Once you have found your information it is important to ensure it is: Useful Appropriate Of a Good Standard Always remember anybody in the world can publish on the internet! They don’t even have to know what they’re talking about….. It’s up to you to be the judge!

Criteria 1.Authority 2.Currency 3.Objectivity 4.Coverage 5.Accuracy There are 5 main points you should consider when evaluating websites….

1) Authority This refers to WHO is responsible for this website and its content. Ask yourself….. Was it written by an expert in the subject? Was it written by an enthusiastic amateur? What qualifications – if any - do they have to write about the subject? Are they a well-known name in this field? Go to the Home Page and look at the About Us or Who We Are sections – this should tell you more about the author or organisation TIP !

Wikipedia Wikipedia is a hugely unreliable website in terms of authority – as anyone can publish information on it! You should never reference Wikipedia in your academic work. Some ‘facts’ written on Wikipedia over the years have included – A yacht killed TV presenter Vernon Kay Robbie Williams makes extra money by eating pet hamsters in pubs in Stoke David Beckham was a Chinese goalkeeper in the 18 th century TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh published a new version of the Karma Sutra Tony Blair is a Hitler worshipper.

2) Currency This refers to how UP-TO-DATE the material is. Ask yourself… Is the website too old for my topic? Is yours a topic where age is of less importance eg. Art or Anatomy? Am I looking for material only published within a certain time frame? Go to the bottom of the Home Page and look for the last updated or last amended date. If there is no date – be wary about using the site!

3) Objectivity This refers to whether the website offers a fair and objective viewpoint. Ask yourself…. Do the authors state clearly the viewpoint they are taking? Is the website sponsored? This can be commercial or political Are the authors trying to sell you something – either a product or an opinion? If you DO want to use a website with a particular viewpoint, it’s often a good idea to use another one with the opposite view. This will give balance to your argument.

4) Coverage This refers to how well the subject is covered on the website. Ask yourself…. Is it an overview, or an in-depth look? Is it aimed at the right level for you? Is the subject well covered? How does this site compare with others on the same subject? Sometimes a statement of who the site is aimed at can help you to decide whether a website is right for you to use or not. Try going to the Home page and then the About Us section to find out more.

5) Accuracy This refers to the look and functionality of the website. Ask yourself…. Are there a lot of broken links? Are there misspelled words and/or bad grammar? Are there any references to other sources used? Has the information been peer-reviewed or edited? When you find a site that has been well written and maintained, this generally indicates a good-quality website, both in terms of aesthetics and content.

More Clues…... ac.uk = educational institution in the UK.edu = educational institution in the US.edu.au = educational institution elsewhere eg. Australia.gov.uk = government site in UK.gov = government site in US.co.uk = company or business (eg.UK).com = company or business anywhere.org = non profit making organisation, eg. a charity.net = miscellaneous sites – can be used by anyone You can often find out more about a website from the URL…

Critical Reading Once you have found reliable sources of information, you need to read them critically. Critical reading does not mean that you are going to ‘be critical’ and criticise a piece of work. It means you are going to engage in what you read and evaluate and analyse the work of others.

Critical Reading The aim of critical reading is not to find fault, but to assess the strength of the evidence and the argument presented. It is just as useful to conclude that a piece of work presents very strong evidence and a well-reasoned argument, as it is to identify the studies or articles that are weak.

Critical Reading Some questions you should ask when critically reading are : -What is the author’s argument? -Is it presented clearly? -What evidence is provided to back up this argument? -Is their argument convincing?