Research: Evaluate Sources
How to Critically Evaluate Web Information
Digital Literacy
Rationale: K-12 schools have Internet access to billions of documents and there is no Media Specialist Empress/Commander of Cyberspace to sort out the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Remember to have a working knowledge of a topic before searching online. Translation: Go to an online or print encyclopedia first to educate yourself on the topic.
Objectives:
To critically evaluate information on the Web, it is imperative to take on the role of a master detective or an award-winning journalist.
Ask the right questions to get to useful, reliable, and accurate information.
You learned about these six dudes from your favorite 4th grade teacher, and they apply most aptly to critical evaluation of information.
Who... What... Where... When... Why... How...
Here are a few suggestions to help you record information in ways that are easy to organize and difficult to plagiarize:
Who...
is the creator of the information?
or, using Internet lingo,
The Authority
- Who is responsible for this site and what are the author's credentials (education level, career, research practice)?
- Does the site have a link to information about the author?
- Can you contact the author by e-mail or, better yet, by a real-world postal address or phone number?
Practice your skill:
Look at the following Web pages that have information on anthrax as a biological weapon. Determine the WHO, and his or her authority. Download and print the worksheet from the previous page, and then record your answers under "Authority."
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Note: If you cannot determine an author's credentials, do a meta-Web information search on his or her name on Google and see what unfolds.
What...
is the information?
or, using Internet lingo,
The Content
- Does the site explain the information clearly?
- Accurately?
- Does the site offer something unique?
- Do you get lost in the presentation?
- Is the presentation silly or insulting to your intelligence?
- Why?
- How in-depth is the information?
- Is the information available in other formats?
Practice your skill:
Look at the following Web pages that have information on daily life in ancient Egypt- Determine the site's usefulness, clarity, and accuracy.
- What type of information is presented, factual or opinion?
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Why & Where...
was the Web page created,
or
Why & Where...
was the information written?
or, using Internet lingo,
The Sponsor
Every Web page has a sponsor and/or publisher and/or creator (the individual or organization that is responsible for the Web site). All Web addresses have extensions that are called domains. It often can reveal the purpose of the Web site -
- to sell
- to educate
- to sound off
- to organize for or support a cause -
- to provide information
by knowing the perspective of the sponsor or where he resides (where he or she is coming from).
The most common domain names are:
.com (commercial organizations)
.org (usually non-profit organizations, but not always)
.edu (educational institutions)
.gov (government)
.net (organizations involved in Internet services)
.int (international organizations)
.info (information)
Knowing the sponsor helps the researcher detect bias that may try to persuade rather than inform.
Practice your skill:
Look at the following Web pages that have information on genetically engineered food.
- Determine the WHY and WHERE of the site, and any bias about the topic.
Record your answers under "Sponsor" on the printable worksheet.
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It is not as easy as it looks. Did you find the least biased site? Because there is bias, it does not mean that the information cannot be used or that it is not accurate.
When...
was it created?
or, using Internet lingo,
The Currency
All reliable Web pages will tell the researcher when the site was last updated. It is also important to note a datethe data was collected. A Web page may be updated regularly but its information could be outdated.
- If there are links to other resources, are they current?
- Are there any dead links?
Practice your skill:
Look at the following Web pages that have information on jailing juveniles with adults.- Determine the currency of the information.
- Besides finding the date of the information, find the date of the sponsor's update.
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How...
is it put together?
or, using Internet lingo,
The Design
- What is the quality of the grammar and spelling?
- Does the Web page look shoddy?
- What is the quality of the graphics?
- Do the graphics enhance or distract?
- Is there a search engine within the site?
- Is this a fee-based site?
- Must you register a name and password before using the site?
- Is it easy to navigate the site?
Practice your skill:
- Look at the following Web pages that have information on biomes of the world.
- Determine the Web-page presentation quality.
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Practice Makes Perfect
Take a look at the following Web pages and rate them without looking at the questions from the previous lessons.
Are you digitally literate?
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