Evaluating Web Sites
Webliography
[Dates refer to the last dated revision seen]
Alexander, Janet E. (Jan), and Marsha Ann Tate. Evaluating Web Resources [see "Original Evaluation Checklists" links]. (Widener University, PA; 25 July 2001)
Barker, Joe, and Saifon Obromsook. Evaluating Web Pages: Questions to Ask & Strategies for Getting the Answers. (Library, University of California--Berkeley, 27 July 2004)
Henderson, John R. The ICYouSee Critical Thinking Guide. (Ithaca College, NY; 11 November 2003)
Kapoun, Jim. "Teaching Undergrads WEB Evaluation: A Guide for Library Instruction." C&RL News (July/August 1998): 522-523.
Kirk, Elizabeth E. Evaluating Information Found on the Internet. (The Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins University; 1996 copyright date).
Smith, Alastair G. "Testing the Surf: Criteria for Evaluating Internet Information Resources." The Public-Access Computer Systems Review 8, no. 3 (1997). (Victoria University of Wellington, NZ; 1997 copyright date)
Tillman, Hope. Evaluating Quality on the Net. (Babson College, MA; 28 March 2003)
Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals
DEFINITIONS:
Webster'sThird International Dictionary defines scholarly as:
1) concerned with academic study, especially research,
2) exhibiting the methods and attitudes of a scholar, and
3) having the manner and appearance of a scholar.
Substantive is defined as having a solid base, being substantial.
Popular means fit for, or reflecting the taste and intelligence of, the people at large.
Sensational is defined as arousing or intending to arouse strong curiosity, interest or reaction.
Keeping these definitions in mind, and realizing that none of the lines drawn between types of journals can ever be totally clear cut, the general criteria are as follows.
SCHOLARLY
Scholarly journal articles often have an abstract, a descriptive summary of the article contents, before the main text of the article.
Scholarly journals generally have a sober, serious look. They often contain many graphs and charts but few glossy pages or exciting pictures.
Scholarly journals always cite their sources in the form of footnotes or bibliographies. These bibliographies are generally lengthy and cite other scholarly writings.
Articles are written by a scholar in the field or by someone who has done research in the field. The affiliations of the authors are listed, usually at the bottom of the first page or at the end of the article--universities, research institutions, think tanks, and the like.
The language of scholarly journals is that of the discipline covered. It assumes some scholarly background on the part of the reader.
The main purpose of a scholarly journal is to report on original research or experimentation in order to make such information available to the rest of the scholarly world.
Many scholarly journals, though by no means all, are published by a specific professional organization.
EXAMPLES OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS:
American Economic Review
Archives of Sexual Behavior
JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of Marriage and the Family(published by the National Council on Family Relations)
Modern Fiction Studies
Sex Roles: A Journal of Research
SUBSTANTIVE NEWS OR GENERAL INTEREST
These periodicals may be quite attractive in appearance, although some are in newspaper format. Articles are often heavily illustrated, generally with photographs.
News and general interest periodicals sometimes cite sources, though more often do not.
Articles may be written by a member of the editorial staff, a scholar or a free lance writer.
The language of these publications is geared to any educated audience. There is no specialty assumed, only interest and a certain level of intelligence.
They are generally published by commercial enterprises or individuals, although some emanate from specific professional organizations.
The main purpose of periodicals in this category is to provide information, in a general manner, to a broad audience of concerned citizens.
EXAMPLES OF SUBSTANTIVE NEWS OR GENERAL INTEREST PERIODICALS:
Christian Science Monitor
Economist
National Geographic
New York Times
Scientific American
Vital Speeches of the Day
POPULAR
Popular periodicals come in many formats, although often somewhat slick and attractive in appearance. Lots of graphics (photographs, drawings, etc.).
These publications rarely, if ever, cite sources. Information published in such journals is often second or third hand and the original source is sometimes obscure.
Articles are usually very short, written in simple language and are designed to meet a minimal education level. There is generally little depth to the content of these articles.
The main purpose of popular periodicals is to entertain the reader, to sell products (their own or their advertisers), and/or to promote a viewpoint.
EXAMPLES OF POPULAR PERIODICALS:
Ebony
Parents
People Weekly Readers Digest
Sports Illustrated
Time
Vogue
SENSATIONAL
Sensational periodicals come in a variety of styles, but often use a newspaper format.
Their language is elementary and occasionally inflammatory or sensational. They assume a certain gullibility in their audience.
The main purpose of sensational magazines seems to be to arouse curiosity and to cater to popular superstitions. They often do so with flashy headlines designed to astonish (e.g. Half-man Half-woman Makes Self Pregnant).
EXAMPLES OF SENSATIONAL PERIODICALS:
Globe
National Examiner
Star
Weekly World News Critically Analyzing Information Sources
INTRODUCTION
You can begin evaluating a physical information source (a book or an article for instance) even before you have the physical item in hand. Appraise a source by first examining the bibliographic citation. The bibliographic citation is the written description of a book, journal article, essay, or some other published material that appears in a catalog or index. Bibliographic citations characteristically have three main components: author, title, and publication information. These components can help you determine the usefulness of this source for your paper. (In the same way, you can appraise a Web site by examining the home page carefully.)
I. INITIAL APPRAISAL
A. Author
- What are the author's credentials--institutional affiliation (where he or she works), educational background, past writings, or experience? Is the book or article written on a topic in the author's area of expertise? You can use the various Who's Who publications for the U.S. and other countries and for specific subjects and the biographical information located in the publication itself to help determine the author's affiliation and credentials.
- Has your instructor mentioned this author? Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars. For this reason, always note those names that appear in many different sources.
- Is the author associated with a reputable institution or organization? What are the basic values or goals of the organization or institution?
B. Date of Publication
- When was the source published? This date is often located on the face of the title page below the name of the publisher. If it is not there, look for the copyright date on the reverse of the title page. On Web pages, the date of the last revision is usually at the bottom of the home page, sometimes every page.
- Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic? Topic areas of continuing and rapid development, such as the sciences, demand more current information. On the other hand, topics in the humanities often require material that was written many years ago. At the other extreme, some news sources on the Web now note the hour and minute that articles are posted on their site.
C. Edition or Revision
Is this a first edition of this publication or not? Further editions indicate a source has been revised and updated to reflect changes in knowledge, include omissions, and harmonize with its intended reader's needs. Also, many printings or editions may indicate that the work has become a standard source in the area and is reliable. If you are using a Web source, do the pages indicate revision dates?
D. Publisher
Note the publisher. If the source is published by a university press, it is likely to be scholarly. Although the fact that the publisher is reputable does not necessarily guarantee quality, it does show that the publisher may have high regard for the source being published.
E. Title of Journal
Is this a scholarly or a popular journal? This distinction is important because it indicates different levels of complexity in conveying ideas. If you need help in determining the type of journal, see Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals. Or you may wish to check your journal title in the latest edition of Katz's Magazines for Libraries (Uris Ref and Olin Ref Z 6941 .K21) for a brief evaluative description.
II. CONTENT ANALYSIS
Having made an initial appraisal, you should now examine the body of the source. Read the preface to determine the author's intentions for the book. Scan the table of contents and the index to get a broad overview of the material it covers. Note whether bibliographies are included. Read the chapters that specifically address your topic. Scanning the table of contents of a journal or magazine issue is also useful. As with books, the presence and quality of a bibliography at the end of the article may reflect the care with which the authors have prepared their work.
A. Intended Audience
What type of audience is the author addressing? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general audience? Is this source too elementary, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs?
B. Objective Reasoning
- Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? It is not always easy to separate fact from opinion. Facts can usually be verified; opinions, though they may be based on factual information, evolve from the interpretation of facts. Skilled writers can make you think their interpretations are facts.
- Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Assumptions should be reasonable. Note errors or omissions.
- Are the ideas and arguments advanced more or less in line with other works you have read on the same topic? The more radically an author departs from the views of others in the same field, the more carefully and critically you should scrutinize his or her ideas.
- Is the author's point of view objective and impartial? Is the language free of emotion-arousing words and bias?
C. Coverage
- Does the work update other sources, substantiate other materials you have read, or add new information? Does it extensively or marginally cover your topic? You should explore enough sources to obtain a variety of viewpoints.
- Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Primary sources are the raw material of the research process. Secondary sources are based on primary sources. For example, if you were researching Konrad Adenauer's role in rebuilding West Germany after World War II, Adenauer's own writings would be one of many primary sources available on this topic. Others might include relevant government documents and contemporary German newspaper articles. Scholars use this primary material to help generate historical interpretations--a secondary source. Books, encyclopedia articles, and scholarly journal articles about Adenauer's role are considered secondary sources. In the sciences, journal articles and conference proceedings written by experimenters reporting the results of their research are primary documents. Choose both primary and secondary sources when you have the opportunity.
D. Writing Style
Is the publication organized logically? Are the main points clearly presented? Do you find the text easy to read, or is it stilted or choppy? Is the author's argument repetitive?
E. Evaluative Reviews
- Locate critical reviews of books in a reviewing source, such as Book Review Index, Book Review Digest, OR Periodical Abstracts. Is the review positive? Is the book under review considered a valuable contribution to the field? Does the reviewer mention other books that might be better? If so, locate these sources for more information on your topic.
- Do the various reviewers agree on the value or attributes of the book or has it aroused controversy among the critics?
- For Web sites, consider consulting one of the evaluation and reviewing sources on the Internet.
The Seven Steps of the Research Process
The following seven steps outline a simple and effective strategy for finding information for a research paper and documenting the sources you find. Depending on your topic and your familiarity with the library, you may need to rearrange or recycle these steps. Adapt this outline to your needs.
STEP 1:IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP YOUR TOPIC
SUMMARY: State your topic as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about use of alcoholic beverages by college students, you might pose the question, "What effect does use of alcoholic beverages have on the health of college students?" Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question.
STEP 2:FIND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SUMMARY: Look up your keywords in the indexes to subject encyclopedias. Read articles in these encyclopedias to set the context for your research. Note any relevant items in the bibliographies at the end of the encyclopedia articles. Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings.
STEP 3:USE CATALOGS TO FIND BOOKS AND MEDIA
SUMMARY: Use keyword searching for a narrow or complex search topic. Use subject searching for a broad subject. Print or write down the citation (author, title,etc.) and the location information (call number and library). Note the circulation status. When you pull the book from the shelf, scan the bibliography for additional sources. Watch for book-length bibliographies and annual reviews on your subject; they list citations to hundreds of books and articles in one subject area. Check the standard subject subheading "--BIBLIOGRAPHIES," or titles beginning with Annual Review of... in the Cornell Library Catalog.
STEP 4:USE INDEXES TO FIND PERIODICAL ARTICLES
SUMMARY: Use periodical indexes and abstracts to find citations to articles. The indexes and abstracts may be in print or computer-based formats or both. Choose the indexes and format best suited to your particular topic; ask at the reference desk if you need help figuring out which index and format will be best. You can find periodical articles by the article author, title, or keyword by using the periodical indexes in the Library Gateway. If the full text is not linked in the index you are using, write down the citation from the index and search for the title of the periodical in the Cornell Library Catalog. The catalog lists the print, microform, and electronic versions of periodicals at Cornell.
STEP 5:FIND INTERNET RESOURCES
SUMMARY: Use search engines and subject directories to locate materials on the Web. Check to see if your class has a bibliography or research guide created by librarians.
STEP 6:EVALUATE WHAT YOU FIND
SUMMARY: See How to Critically Analyze Information Sources and Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria for suggestions on evaluating the authority and quality of the books and articles you located. If you have found too many or too few sources, you may need to narrow or broaden your topic. Check with a reference librarian or your instructor.
STEP 7: CITE WHAT YOU FIND USING A STANDARD FORMAT
Give credit where credit is due; cite your sources.
Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves two purposes, it gives proper credit to the authors of the materials used, and it allows those who are reading your work to duplicate your research and locate the sources that you have listed as references.
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington: APA, 2001. (Olin Ref BF 76.7 .P83x 2001; also Uris Ref, Mann Ref, others)
- If you are writing an annotated bibliography, see How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography.
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Evaluating Web Pages:Techniques to Apply &Questions to Ask
UC Berkeley - Teaching Library Internet Workshops
1. What can the URL tell you?
Techniques for Web Evaluation :
1. Before you leave the list of search results -- before you click and get interested in anything written on the page -- glean all you can from the URLs of each page.
2. Then choose pages most likely to be reliable and authentic.
Questions to ask: / What are the implications?Is it somebody's personal page?
- Read the URL* carefully:
- Look for a personal name (e.g., jbarker or barker) following a tilde (~ ), a percent sign ( % ), or or the words "users," "members," or "people."
- Is the server a commercial ISP* or other provider mostly of web page hosting (like aol.com or geocities.com
For personal pages, there is no publisher or domain owner vouching for the information in the page.
What type of domain does it come from ?
(educational, nonprofit, commercial, government, etc.)
- Is the domain appropriate for the content?
- Government sites: look for .gov, .mil, .us, or other country code
- Educational sites: look for .edu
- Nonprofit organizations: look for .org
- If from a foreign country, look at the country code and read the page to be sure who published it.
Is it published by an entity that makes sense?
Who "published" the page?
- In general, the publisher is the agency or person operating the "server" computer from which the document is issued.
- The server is usually named in first portion of the URL (between and the first /)
- Have you heard of this entity before?
- Does it correspond the name of the site? Should it?
- Look for New York Times news from
- Look for health information from any of the agencies of the National Institute of Health on sites with nih somewhere in the domain name.
2. Scan the perimeter of the page, looking for answers to these questions: