Super Science Research Project!

The Tree Octopus

Raising Awareness of Endangered

Animals

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Letchworth Library Lesson

Why Should We Evaluate a Website?

There are approximately 23,633,010,000 webpages available.

Some of these websites have information that is accurate but there are many that do not!

How do you know if you are getting accurate information?

How to Begin…

There are six main things to consider when you are trying to decide is a website is acceptable to use for research…

1.) Accuracy

Is all the information on this webpage ACCURATE?

How do you check this? You can cross-reference your RESOURCES.

This means CHECKING another library resource such as a book to see if they have the same INFORMATION.

2.) Authority Does this webpage list an AUTHOR - or someone who is

responsible for writing this information down?

Is there an email address so that you can CONTACT this person with questions?

Does the author mention where he or she went to COLLEGE or how they obtained their knowledge?

Is their education RELATED to what they are discussing?

3.) Objectivity

– Does this webpage have BIAS or opinions?

Is this webpage trying to get you to BELIEVE one side of an argument or another?

Does this website just GIVE you facts and let you make up your own mind?

4.) Currency

Does this webpage tell you when it was last UPDATED by the author?

Are all the links LIVE?

Is the information on the page CURRENT?

Is this the sort of information that needs to be UPDATED regularly?

5.) Coverage

– Is there too much or not enough INFORMATION?

When they author did their research did they include a works CITED list for you to see?

Can you see all the information or do you have to SUBSCRIBE to see everything?

6.) Content/Purpose

What is the PURPOSE of this site?

What sorts of RESOURCES does this site provide?

Is this site trying to inform me or CONVINCE me?

Is this site trying to SELL me something?

Alternatives… Books in your library

They have been selected by a professional based on their quality and usability. The information contained has been verified for accuracy.

Reputable magazines They are published by a staff of writers and editors who use

journalistic integrity. This means that writers for a good magazine always research information for accuracy. If a mistake is made, the magazine will correct it in writing.

Databases Consist of web resources that have been researched and

checked for accuracy by a paid team of professionals. They often require a subscription and are specifically developed for people doing research.

Odobenus montanus

The Mountain Walrus