Monash University Library

Academic Research on the Internet

Evaluating sources

Use this document as an alternative to the online interactive tutorial

Description

Welcome to tutorial 3, Evaluating sources on the internet. This tutorial will equip you with the tools to evaluate information and determine the quality of the resources found on the internet.

Contents

Academic Research on the Internet.....................................................................1Evaluating sources...............................................................................................1Use this document as an alternative to the online interactive tutorial..................1

Screen 1 – Introduction....................................................................................2Screen 2 – Criteria for evaluating information..................................................3Screen 3 – Evaluating information....................................................................4Screen 4 – Currency of information..................................................................5Screen 5 – Authority of information..................................................................6Screen 6 – Objectivity of information................................................................7Screen 7 – Audience of information.................................................................8Screen 8 – Accuracy of information..................................................................9Screen 9 – Appropriate academic source......................................................10Screen 10 – Criteria for evaluating academic research..................................11Screen 11 – Final slide in the module............................................................12Appendix – Quiz Answers..............................................................................13

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

1

Monash University Library

Screen 1 – Introduction

Introduction slide includes image of two people in a science lab examining the contents of a bottle.

Welcome to tutorial 3, Evaluating sources on the internet. This tutorial will equip you with the tools to evaluate information and determine the quality of the resources found on the internet.

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

2

Monash University Library

Screen 2 – Criteria for evaluating information

Slide includes image of a lady with a text box containing: You need to evaluate all of the information you are using for your academic research, not just the information found on the internet.

Evaluation is the process of assessing the resources you find to determine whether they are of a suitable standard for academic research. Evaluation is especially necessary for internet resources because they are often not subject to the quality control (e.g. editing or review) demonstrated in traditional publishing, especially if self-published.

When evaluating information found on the internet, consider the following criteria:

Currency - When was the information created or updated? Authority - Who produced the document, publication or content? Objectivity - Why was the information produced? Audience - Who was the information intended for? Accuracy - Is the content flawed or inconsistent?

Click Start to continue.

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

3

Monash University Library

Screen 3 – Evaluating information

Quiz slide includes a scenario with the option of selecting either True or False.

George has found information he wants to use in his research. This information was found in a variety of places, including the internet and the library. Before he uses any of this information, he needs to evaluate its quality. Select the appropriate response and click submit.

True. False.

Quiz answers are provided in the Appendix.

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

4

Monash University Library

Screen 4 – Currency of information

Quiz slide includes an image of 2008 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics with a hyperlink enabling viewing of the publication.

Quiz QuestionIs this publication current?

Yes No

Quiz answers are provided in the Appendix.

Is the information current? Theories and knowledge change over time. If your information is not current it may be referring to disproved or obsolete approaches or ideas. Some questions for assessing currency are:

When was the content created? Is this the most up-to-date version? Is the website, database or journal updated regularly?

You can limit your search to a specific time period but these filters are not always reliable. Always check the date of your resource. If you are looking for historical information, such as newspaper articles, make sure that each resource is in the appropriate date range.

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

5

Monash University Library

Screen 5 – Authority of information

Quiz slide includes socialbakers logo and Australian Bureau of Statistics logo with the option of viewing both websites through hyperlinks.

Quiz QuestionWhich website should contain more authoritative information about Australian social and demographic statistics?

Australian Bureau of Statistics Social Bakers Facebook statistics

Quiz answers are provided in the Appendix.

Who created the document, publication or content? The ease of internet publication means that anyone can create content regardless of their level of expertise. To evaluate authority you need to identify the author and assess their credentials and qualifications. Some questions for assessing Authority are:

Is the author affiliated with a recognised and reliable organisation?

Does the author possess the appropriate training, knowledge or recognition in the relevant field?

If there is no author identified you may want to reconsider using the information in your academic research. Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

6

Monash University Library

Screen 6 – Objectivity of information

Quiz slide includes image of a publication by Greenpeace titled Silent Killers. Why Europe must replace coal power with green energy.

Quiz QuestionIs this publication objective?

Yes No

Quiz answers are provided in the Appendix.

Why has the information been produced? Objectivity refers to a lack of bias, opinion or influence. Many websites and databases are produced to promote a commercial or ideological agenda. To assess the objectivity of information, you need to establish the point of view of the author, and the motivations of the publisher. Some questions for assessing objectivity are:

What are the author’s affiliations?

Are commercial products recommended or advertised?

Does the information represent multiple points of view? Does it consider both sides of an argument?

Screen 7 – Audience of information

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

7

Monash University Library

Quiz slide includes image of Better Health Channel logo.

Quiz QuestionIs this information on this web page directed at an academic/professional or general public audience?

Academic/Professional General Public

Quiz answers are provided in the Appendix.

Who was the information provided for? Audience is about assessing whether the information provided is at an appropriate level for scholarly research. The intended audience affects the depth, complexity and rigour of the information provided. Some questions for assessing Audience are:

Who is the intended audience?

Does this audience require a similar level of depth, complexity and rigour as that required from academic researchers?

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

8

Monash University Library

Screen 8 – Accuracy of information

Quiz slide includes images of DHMO.org logo and EPA logo with hyperlinks enabling viewing of each website. DHMO stands for Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division and EPA is United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Quiz QuestionWhich website is more accurate?

DHMO EPA

Quiz answers are provided in the Appendix.

Is the website or database a reliable source of information? The Accuracy criterion assesses the legitimacy and authenticity of the information provided by a database or website. Some questions for evaluating accuracy are:

Are there any accountability safeguards, or standards for the information?

Do the authors offer evidence to support their content? Is referencing or other acknowledgement of sources provided?

Does the information correspond to that provided in other resources such as journal articles?

Are there obvious factual, grammar, punctuation or spelling errors?

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

9

Monash University Library

Screen 9 – Appropriate academic source

Quiz slide includes image of a publication titled Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevelance and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. The author organisation includes World Health Organisation.

Quiz Question

Is this information appropriate to use for academic and scholarly research? Yes No

Quiz answers are provided in the Appendix.

While you need to be careful when using internet resources in your research, sometimes the information you require is only available on the internet. Safeguard the quality of your research output by critically evaluating any websites and publications you find.

Remember to assess the currency, authority, objectivity, audience and accuracy of any information you find on the internet.

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

10

Monash University Library

Screen 10 – Criteria for evaluating academic research

Quiz slide

Quiz Question

Which of the following is NOT a criterion used to evaluate the quality of information? Select the appropriate answer and click submit.

Currency Authority Objectivity Accuracy Popularity

Quiz answers are provided in the Appendix.

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

11

Monash University Library

Screen 11 – Final slide in the module

Slide with text and an image of 3 circular buttons each representing a different destination: Return to the Main menu; Continue to the next tutorial Managing sources; Repeat this tutorial, Evaluating sources.

Congratulations. You have completed the tutorial for Evaluating Sources on the Internet. You should now be able to evaluate the quality of information on the internet.

Click the Main menu to return to the start page, Managing sources to continue to the next tutorial or Evaluating sources to restart this tutorial.

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

12

Monash University Library

Appendix – Quiz Answers

Screen 3 – Evaluating information

George has found information he wants to use in his research. This information was found in a variety of places, including the internet and the library. Before he uses any of this information, he needs to evaluate it’s quality.

True or False

True (Feedback: Correct)

False (Feedback: Incorrect)

Screen 4 – Currency of information

Is this publication current?

Yes (Feedback: Incorrect. If you track back through the organisational author’s website, rather than the host organisations website you will find that a more current version is available.)

No (Feedback: Correct. While this document is the latest available through the PARDS organisational website, there are more up to date versions available through the Department of Homeland Security.)

Screen 5 – Authority of information

Which website should contain more authoritative information about Australian social and demographic statistics?

Australian Bureau of Statistics Social Bakers Facebook statistics

Australian Bureau of Statistics (Feedback: Correct. This website is run by an Australian Government department. Its source of information includes the official Census data collected every 5 years, from every Australian resident. It is a recognised authority in Australian social and demographic statistics.)

Social Bakers Facebook statistics (Feedback: Incorrect. This website is run by a commercial organisation. It is market-based and many of the services it offers are not free. Also the source of its statistics is not comprehensive, as it is collected through a non-compulsory social media platform.)

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

13

Monash University Library

Screen 6 – Objectivity of information

Is this publication objective?

Yes or No

Yes (Feedback: Incorrect. While this publication is well-presented and does not contain advertising, it is presenting one side of an argument and pushing an ideological agenda. It does not present multiple points of view.)

No (Feedback: Correct. This publication only represents one side of an argument. Also the document is produced by Greenpeace. This affiliation indicates a bias towards environmentalism. It may still be useful as an individual perspective on the issue, however you would need to represent both sides of this debate in your research.)

Screen 7 – Audience of information

Is this information on this web page directed at an academic/professional or general public audience?

Academic/Professional General Public

Academic/Professional (Feedback: Incorrect. While this website offers a variety of publications catering to a range of audiences, from the general public, to health practitioners, this web page seems to be directed towards the general public. There is little evidence provided to statements made.)

General Public (Feedback: Correct. This website is not directed at an academic or scholarly audience. While the accuracy of the information may be high, the level of complexity is not appropriate for academic research.)

Screen 8 – Accuracy of information

Which website is more accurate?

DHMO EPA

DHMO (Feedback: Incorrect. While this website appears to be legitimate it is actually a hoax internet site about the dangers of water (H20). Check out independent reviews, and research the ‘factual’ information provided.)

EPA (Feedback: Correct. This is a website for a US government department that is responsible for providing information and implementing legislation through regulations and standards.)

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

14

Monash University Library

Screen 9 – Appropriate information

Is this information appropriate to use for academic and scholarly research?

Yes or No

Yes (Feedback: Correct. This publication is recently published and produced by a reputable organisation. The report clearly defines the methodology and limitations of the research and also contains an extensive reference list.)

No (Feedback: Incorrect. While the intended audience for this publication is not specifically defined as scholarly, the depth, complexity and rigour of the research is similar to that required in academic and scholarly works.)

Screen 10 – Criteria for evaluating academic research

Which of the following is NOT a criteria used to evaluate the quality of information?

Currency (Feedback: Not quite. Currency is important to make sure the information is up to date.)

Authority (Feedback: Not quite. Authority is important to establish the credentials of the author and credibility of the information.)

Objectivity (Feedback: Not quite. Objectivity is important to critically appraise the motivations of the author and any potential bias in the content.)

Accuracy (Feedback: Not quite. Accuracy is important to make sure the content is correct.)

Popularity (Feedback: Correct. Popularity is not a valid criteria for evaluating the quality of academic information.)

Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, AustraliaTelephone +61 3 9902 6000 Facsimile +61 3 9905 4007www.monash.edu/library

15