| Rio Hondo College Library | |
| Evaluating Web sites for research Assignments | |
| Practice exercise | |
| The need to evaluate Web sites: | ||
| Anyone can publish Web sites | ||
| No one screens or reviews Web sites | ||
| Buyer (or reader) beware environment | ||
| Criteria are necessary to assess Web sites | ||
| TO SELECT INFORMATION THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS |
| The Web is an unfiltered environment | ||
| Web sites can be produced by anyone | ||
| A Web site can be: | ||
| Misinformation | ||
| Hoaxes | ||
| Scams (get rich quick) | ||
| Urban myths | ||
| Biased | ||
| Many are not reviewed by fact checkers or editors | ||
| Selected by librarians through: | ||
| Reviews | ||
| Knowledge of the topic | ||
| Knowledge of the author | ||
| Knowledge of the publisher | ||
| Requests from faculty teaching courses | ||
| Selected to support courses at Rio Hondo College | ||
Checklist to Evaluate Web Sites
| Types | ||
| Goals | ||
| Objectivity | ||
| Coverage | ||
| Author | ||
| Sources | ||
| Accuracy | ||
| Currency | ||
| Examine the content and identify the type of Web site: | |
| Entertainment | |
| Business/Marketing | |
| Reference/Informational | |
| News | |
| Advocacy | |
| Personal Page |
Most Common Types of
Web Sites Defined By Purpose
| .com = business/marketing, e-commerce | |
| .edu = academic, colleges/universities | |
| .gov = U.S. government produced | |
| .net = network | |
| .org = advocacy groups or informational | |
| ~ indicates personal Web page |
| Are the goals of the Web site clearly stated? | |
| Example: EARTHWATCH Institute |
| Is the Web site biased or objective? | |
| Example: Pro-Life Movement |
| Is the topic covered in depth or briefly? | |
| Are quality links to other useful sites included? |
| Is the author’s name or the organization’s name listed? | |
| Do authors list their professional affiliation, credentials, or degrees? | |
| If an organization is listed, is it well-known and reputable? | |
| Example: Democracy Net |
| Does the Web site list where the information was obtained? | |
| Example: Internet Time Line |
| Is the information correct, or is the information verified by an editor(s) or a fact checker (most Web sites are not)? Pew Research Center is a Web site that has editors to verify information. | |
| Verify the facts with other sources such as authoritative books, periodicals, or with an instructor or librarian. |
| Are the creation date and revision dates listed? | |
| Example Terrorism subject guide from the Rio Hondo College Library Web site | |
| Review the checklist | |
| Complete the practice exercise |