Evaluating Information on the Internet

Faculty Development WorkshopMarch 8, 2013

Donna L. Pattison, PhDInstructional Professor

Department of Biology & Biochemistry

What the Studies Say…Allen and colleagues (Nature, 1999) found that the vast majority of websites on subjects such as evolution (87.8%), genetically modified organisms (82.8%), and endangered species (73.6%) were inaccurate or misleading.

Dellavalle and colleagues (2003) found that 13% of the references in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and JAMA that were 27 months old or older were no longer active. Only 55% of URLs in 1999 bibliographies led to the right site.

Mintzes & Leonard (2006) Handbook of College Science Teaching. Chapter 14: NSTA press,p.137-138.

Discussion…Create a list of questions you ask yourself when evaluating information you read (journals, newspapers, Internet).

http://www.drmercola.net/food/dr-mercola-white-rice-cereal-is-not-a-healthy-baby-food/

Use your list to evaluate this article:

Caution: Dihyrogen Monoxide

www.dhmo.org

A great website built as a joke to promote the dangers of water. A fun cautionary tale about not believing everything you read on the Internet.

Reinforcement

• What topics in your area of expertise are you likely to find misleading or inaccurate information about on the Internet?

• What can you do to engage students in some critical thinking about this topic?