1. Evaluating Web Resources (It’s on the Internet so it must be true?)

2. Internet Should I believe everything I read?
Internet is a self-publishing medium
Anyone can create and distribute information
Sites are not monitored, edited, regulated or approved
Just because information is on the Web does not guarantee its believability or accuracy
Should a person question the credibility of material found on the Web
What is credibility
Capacity for belief
Key to credibility is trust

3. Authority Who wrote the page What are the author’s credentials
Look for the author’s name near the top or bottom
If no name, look for copyright credit © or link to organization
What are the author’s credentials
Biographical information or author’s affiliations
Can you verify the author’s credentials
Could credentials be made up
Did the author include contact information
link, address, phone number

4. Authority (continued)
Whose web site is this
What organization is sponsoring this page
Look at domain name
Internet service provider sites and online community sites feature personal pages
Other steps
Search the author’s name in search engine
Use Whois to find out who has registered the domain name
Search for the main web site address in alltheweb or Google

5. Accuracy Is this stuff correct
Are there clues to tell you that the information on the page is true
Does the author list sources
Is there a bibliography of citations
Can the information be verified elsewhere
Are there obvious errors

6. Bias Are the facts accurately and completely cited
Is the author fair, balanced, and moderate in views
Or is the author overly emotional or extreme
Does the author use inflammatory or provocative language
What is the purpose of the page
Why was the page written and for whom
Is there advertising on the page
Can it be differentiated from the informational content

7. Currency Is there a date on the page Is the information up-to-date
Recent date doesn’t mean the page is current
Content might be years out of date even if the given date is recent
Is the information up-to-date
Compare to other sources
Broken links may mean an out-of-date page
If the page was revised, were the changes substantive
Always note and cite the date you visit the page
May have to provide the validity of your data from another source if your page disappears

8. Coverage Is the page a complete document or an abstract/summary
Does the author adequately cover the topic
Is important information left out intentionally
What time period is covered
Are there good links to additional coverage
Is the information free or is there a fee to access more detailed data
Does the page contain information that is pertinent to your research topic
How can you use this information

9. Design and Navigation Is the page easy to read
Does the background interfere with the page’s content
Is the color “easy on the eyes”
Is the material presented in an orderly format
Do the graphics and images add to the presentation
Are links appropriate to the topic; do they work
Is there a link at the bottom to go back to main
Is there a link on each supporting page to go back
Do you need special software to view information

10. Bibliography Whenever you write a paper using outside sources
Must include references
Must cite references throughout the paper
Why include a bibliography?
it shows that you have done some research and have found relevant information
it shows that you have supported your points properly
it is part of the marking criteria
You must always acknowledge your sources
otherwise you will be guilty of cheating, or
plagiarism (using someone else's work as your own without acknowledging it)
Whether this is done deliberately or unintentionally, the university's regulations are very strict