Evaluating WebsitesSorting out all the CRAAP on the internet

Why Evaluate?

• Anyone can create a website• Their “facts” don’t have to be true• No one monitors the content on the internet• There are millions of websites available, both good and

bad

When Evaluating a Website…

• Think critically • Use your common sense!• Compare multiple sources• ALWAYS cite your sources

How to Sort Out the CRAAP

• Currency

• Relevance

• Authority

• Accuracy

• Purpose

Currency

• When was the page last updated?• This information is often difficult to find or not available • How current are the links? Are some links broken?• How sophisticated is the website? (Just text? Links?

Includes pictures/video?)

Relevance

• What topics are covered?• Are they relevant to your topic?• How in depth is the material?• Does the site have links for further information?• Does the site have enough information to research?

Authority

• Is there an author?• If so, is this person/group credible?• Look for a header or footer that shows affiliation• Look at the URL http://www.fns.usda.gov• Look at the domain name .gov .edu .org .net .com

• It is often hard to determine a website’s authorship• Are there references/sources listed?• Remember: Anyone can post anything on the web!

Top Level Domains

• .edu = higher education (colleges)• .k-12 = elementary and secondary schools• .com = commercial• .gov = government agency• .mil = military• .org = nonprofit organization• .net = computer network

Accuracy

• Is the information reliable and error-free?• Is there an editor or someone who verifies the facts?

(this is often difficult to determine)• Currently, there are no standards in place to check for

website accuracy.• This is the most difficult part of CRAAP to determine.

Purpose

• Is the website biased?• Is the website designed to sway opinion?• Is there advertising on the site?

• http://www.fns.usda.gov/slp

• http://fedupwithlunch.com/

• http://www.ecoliteracy.org/downloads/rethinking-school-lunch-guide

What Else Should I Look For?

• A lot of pop-ups and obnoxious ads• Anyone selling something (including a subscription to the

website)• The author is trying to persuade you to see their point of

view• Unrealistic promises (You’ll make millions your first

week!)

Reliable or CRAAP?• http://www.timetravelfund.com/

• http://www.stephenswork.com/funkyshoes/index.html

• http://www.si.edu/

• http://www.stearns.org/fun/afdb/afdb.html

• http://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/

• http://www.treasury.gov/auctions/irs/

• http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/bread.html

• http://rythospital.com/

• http://havidol.com/index.php