"We've inherited this notion that if it pops up on a screen and looks good, we tend to think of it as fairly credible."Paul Gilster, Digital Literacy (1997)
Traditionally, publishers verify the accuracy of works before they are printed. However, there is no real filtering mechanism on the Web. This work falls to you. This tutorial introduces some useful indicators to help you make judgments and become a more informed consumer of Web information.
Source evaluation is an art, not an exact science. Robert Harris notes ". . . there is no single perfect indicator of reliability, truthfulness, or value. Instead you must make an inference from a collection of clues or indicators, based on the use you plan to make of your source." (Evaluating Internet Research Sources)
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Evaluation takes place in the context of your research task. What do you need? Are you browsing for new ideas and opinions or trying to find evidence to support a position?
Ask: Does this Web site provide the kind of information that I need?
Links to pages that tell more about the content of the Web site. They may be called:
| For example, Project Vote Smart, is a great source for information about political candidates. Click on "About Us" to find out more about the organization and the site. |
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It's important to understand a site's primary purpose (or "mission") as you consider its value for your project. Web sites can be categorized as:
See the chart below for more information about each type of site.
| Type | Purpose | Produced By | Description & Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advocacy | Sway opinion | Organizations or individuals | Advocacy sites (including blogs) may provide a wealth of information, but it's important to understand that these postings, articles, reports and policy papers are intended to promote a particular viewpoint or reflect one person's opinion. Usually opposing viewpoints on these issues are not represented. Advocacy sites are most useful for understanding different points of view. Example: Secondhand Smoke |
| Commercial | Promote or sell products and services | Companies | Commercial sites may provide short articles and other useful information to draw readers to their site. Commercial sites may also offer reviews of their own products. Will they be likely to tell both sides of the story, or should you look elsewhere for more balanced reviews?
Example: Princeton Review |
| Reference / Information | Provide access to useful information and services | Universities, government agencies, publishers, individuals | Because these sites are not designed to promote a specific viewpoint or product, they are more likely to offer a full range of information on a topic.
Example: Encyclopedia of Cleveland History |
Ask: What is the site's primary purpose: to inform or to promote an idea or product?
Road test your evaluation skills by identifying the main purpose of some sites:
[Links open in new window.]