Name:______Date: ______Class #: ______

Evaluating Websites for Health III:

Using Credible and Reliable Sites for Health Information

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Explore analysis of medical sites in Part A.

2.  For Part B, visit the following health-related websites.

3.  Using the attached sheet that explains thecriteria for evaluating websites, discuss whether or not each site is credible and reliable. You must use the criteria to determine this.

  1. For each website, list at least 3 reasons why the site is credible or why it is not credible.
  2. Move on to partC and find credible and non-credible websites on selected topics.

PART A: National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health

HEALTHY WEB SURFING: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthywebsurfing.html

  1. What is a “cyberskeptic” and why should you be one?

______

  1. What is a privacy policy and why is it important?

______

  1. Why is it important to consider the funding (who pays for) the website?

______

  1. What leads to the “best medical decisions”?

______

ONLINE SYMPTOM CHECKERS:

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2015/09/checking-symptom-checkers

  1. Do free online symptom checkers often give the correct diagnosis? Why?

______

  1. What percentage have been found to be correctly diagnosed at first?

______

  1. What advice does Dr. Ateev Mehrotra of Harvard Medical School give?

______

PART B: Websites to visit:

(1) http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(2) http://renegadehealth.com/blog/nutritionfads

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(3) http://www.eatrightpro.org/resources/news-center/nutrition-trends

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(4) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/index.shtml

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(5) http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0775896.html

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(6) http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/books/review/shortlist-stephen-long-thirty-eight-eruption-steve-olson.html?_r=0

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(7) http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(8) https://smokingcessationtrust.org/

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(9) http://www.cancer.org/healthy/stayawayfromtobacco/guidetoquittingsmoking/

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

(10) http://www.caffeineinformer.com/category/energy-drink-brands

Credible and reliable site? (circle one) Yes No

Why? (include at least 3 reasons and explanations)

1.
2.
3.

PART C:

à Go to Google.com

à Search for a topic studied or discussed in Health III, including nutrition, personal safety and preparedness (ask your teacher for additional details)

1. What topic did you search for?

2. List 1 credible website you found and list 3 reasons why you believe this site is credible and reliable.

Website:
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:

3. List 1 website that is questionable or is not credible and list 3 reasons why you do not believe this is a reliable site.

Website:
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:

Lenape Media Center Research Guide

C.R.A.P. Test for Evaluating Websites

Currency

·  How recent is the information?

·  Can you locate a date when the page(s) were written/created/updated?

·  Based in your topic, is it current enough?

Reliability

·  What kind of information is included in the website?

·  Based on your other research, is it accurate? ...complete?

·  Does the author provide references for quotations and data?

·  If there are links, do they work?

Authority

·  Can you determine who the author/creator is?

·  Is there a way to contact them?

·  What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?

·  Is there evidence they're experts on the subject?

·  Who is the publisher or sponsor of the site?

·  Is this publisher/sponsor reputable?

Accuracy

·  Where does the information come from?

·  Is the information supported by evidence?

·  Has the information been reviewed or refereed?

·  Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?

Purpose / Point of View

·  What's the intent of the website (to persuade, to sell you something, etc.)?

·  What is the domain (.edu, .org, .com, etc.)? How might that influence the point of view?

·  Are there ads on the website? How do they relate to the topic being covered (e.g., an ad for ammunition next to an article about firearms legislation)?

·  Is the author presenting fact or opinion?

·  Who might benefit from a reader believing this website?

·  Based on the writing style, who is the intended audience?

Adapted from and with thanks to: Molly Beestrum, Dominican University Librarian; and Vanderbilt University Library.