Evaluating Web Sources For Research

Evaluating Web Evaluating Web Sources for ResearchSources for Research

Instruction for beginning MBA Instruction for beginning MBA students students

By Mahrya Carncross, Librarian Candidate, City University of Seattle Library

Association of College and Research Libraries (2003). Information Literacy Standards for Higher Education. Retrieved February 23, 2009 at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm .

Information Literacy: Skills for Information Literacy: Skills for Research SuccessResearch Success

Why Evaluate?Why Evaluate?

Make sense of excessive amounts of Make sense of excessive amounts of information found onlineinformation found online

Web content is not monitored or Web content is not monitored or universally checked for accuracyuniversally checked for accuracy

Web content is published with many Web content is published with many intentionsintentions

Develop your critical thinking skills Develop your critical thinking skills

Evaluation Criteria Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria can be used to The following criteria can be used to judge a resource’s effectivenessjudge a resource’s effectiveness– AuthorityAuthority– AccuracyAccuracy– ContentContent– CurrencyCurrency– ObjectivityObjectivity

Authority Authority

Questions: Questions: Who created the Who created the

source?source? Is the author Is the author

qualified?qualified? What else does the What else does the

publisher put out?publisher put out? Is additional Is additional

information about information about creators readily creators readily available? available?

Evaluation Techniques:Evaluation Techniques: Look for biographical Look for biographical

and publishing and publishing information at the information at the source.source.

Examine banner, “about Examine banner, “about us” and URL.us” and URL.

Conduct a web search Conduct a web search for the author and/or for the author and/or publisher.publisher.

Search library sources Search library sources for publishing history.for publishing history.

AccuracyAccuracy

Questions: Questions: Is the information Is the information

verifiable?verifiable? Are claims believable?Are claims believable? Can you find any Can you find any

errors?errors? Does the author cite Does the author cite

sources?sources?

Evaluation Techniques:Evaluation Techniques:

Consult additional Consult additional sources to verify sources to verify claims.claims.

Check bibliography, Check bibliography, references and links.references and links.

Ask an expert.Ask an expert.

ContentContent

Questions:Questions: Does the site contain Does the site contain

complete information?complete information? Does it provide you Does it provide you

with new knowledge?with new knowledge? Is the source relevant Is the source relevant

to your topic?to your topic? What does the site What does the site

seem to be missing?seem to be missing?


Use the 5 W’s.Use the 5 W’s. Look for information Look for information

that is new and useful.that is new and useful. Consider your topic’s Consider your topic’s

boundaries.boundaries.

CurrencyCurrency

Questions:Questions: Is the information Is the information

timely? timely? When was the source When was the source

last updated?last updated? Is it regularly Is it regularly

updated?updated?


Check citations.Check citations. Look for date of last Look for date of last

update on web pages.update on web pages. Check back frequently Check back frequently

for updates.for updates.

ObjectivityObjectivity

Questions:Questions: Why did the author Why did the author

publish the source? publish the source? Does the article reflect Does the article reflect

a particular agenda? a particular agenda? Are persuasive claims Are persuasive claims

backed by evidence?backed by evidence? Are tone and language Are tone and language

appropriate for topic?appropriate for topic?


Determine purpose of Determine purpose of the work.the work.

Look for slant or bias.Look for slant or bias. Examine links, Examine links,

references and ads.references and ads.

Does it Add Up?Does it Add Up?

What is your overall impression of What is your overall impression of the source?the source?

Will it fill a gap in your research Will it fill a gap in your research knowledge?knowledge?

Some ExamplesSome Examples

Responsible Shopper Profile Responsible Shopper Profile

Standard & Poor's Industry Standard & Poor's Industry Profile Profile

Stanford University's Stanford University's Entrepreneurship Corner Entrepreneurship Corner

The Library is Here to Help!The Library is Here to Help!

Library > Resources by Program > Management

Library > Resources by Program > Management >How Do I?

Thank you!Thank you!