EVALUATING INTERNET RESOURCES
The information available through the Internet makes many people feel that they can find almost anything with the tap of a keyboard. You may feel the same way when beginning to work on your research papers. Whether you look for information on marijuana laws, abortion, or same sex marriages, you can retrieve hundreds of sources on your topic through Google or Yahoo. However, it is important to realize that the easy accessibility of information has one catch: since anyone with a knowledge of HTML can develop a web site and since there are often few editorial checks on web site materials, the quality of web-accessible information varies. The following criteria will help you select reliable web materials.
CRITERION ONE: Relevance
- The information is relevant to your topic:
- explore broadly in the initial stages of your search
- refine your search as you move on
CRITERION TWO: Authority
- The site identifies the author.
- The site lists the author’s credentials: it offers information about the author’s occupation, education, and/or (professional) experience.
- The web site provides contact information for the author such as an organization address, telephone number, or e-mail address.
CRITERION THREE: Objectivity or Clear Disclosure of the Site’s Point of View
- The site aims at objectivity: its purpose is to inform and explain without taking sides.
- The site does take sides, but at the same time is explicit about its point of view.
- The site indicates whether it targets a specific audience. Look for sites with information designed for an audience with needs and level of expertise similar to your own.
CRITERION FOUR: Adequate Coverage, Accuracy, and Verifiability
- The site exhibits a suitable depth for its purpose: the information is not trivial or too general.
- The site provides evidence to support the ideas presented in it.
- The sources of the site’s information are clear: we can tell whether the information is original or comes from another source.
- The facts seem accurate: you can verify them by going to another source in the field.
CRITERION FIVE: Currency
- The site states the date(s) at which the information was gathered.
- The site includes a "last updated" date.
- If the information is time-sensitive, the site should be regularly updated.
SOURCES CONSULTED:
Handbooks
- Ramage, John D., and John C. Bean. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing. Needham Heights: Allyn & Bacon, 2000. See Chapter 15, “Making an Evaluation” (our main source).
Online Sources
This handout was prepared by Ladka Khailova, Department of English, University of South Carolina. Updated by Writing Center, March 2005.
