Evaluating Web information

Prof. Noraida Domínguez Flores2008

English 3202

What to do?• When you find information through

the Internet it is important to evaluate different aspects to determine if it is correct or valuable information.

What to evaluate?• These are the aspects that you

need to consider for evaluation:• Purpose• Audience• Authority• Supplier• Currency

• Type of publication• If it is subjective or objective• Quality of information

What is the purpose of the Web site?

By answering the following questions will help you to evaluate the Web site?

– Does this site provide the kind of information I need?

– What is the site’s primary purpose: inform, promote an idea or a product?

– Is this a commercial web site (.com), educational (.edu), from a government agency (.gov), from a organization (.org) or other?

Remember…• If the purpose of the Web site is to sell

or promote a product or service, it will offer the more convenient information for them, not for you.

• But, if the purpose is to educate, then it will be possible that the information is correct.

What you need to identify?

• First, you need to identify who is responsible for the Web site. The domain extension (.edu, .gov,.org) will give you an idea of this.

• After identifying who is responsible, it will be easier to determine the purpose of the information.

•Authority–Does the author have appropriate education, training or experience?–Who is responsible for the site?–Can I see the author (s) information?–Can I contact him or her?

Remember…• That anyone can publish

information through the Internet, because of this it is important to identify a name, affiliation or other contact information about the author.

Locate the contact information…

• All Web sites need to include contact information about who is responsible for its publication.

• It is important to identify this information to included on your bibliography.

If there is no author…• Be sure that the document is on

an educational or governmental Web site. This will assure that it is a correct information.

To be able to evaluate the content, answer the following questions:

– Does the author have interest in the topic?– Are arguments supported with documentation?– Is there a reference list?

Content

In terms of content…• It is important to identify if the

information is a personal opinion, or if it is effectively documented with references.

• The presence of a reference list evidence that the author used other resources for the document.

• Be sure to identify if the information is accurate, by comparing it with other information you found.

• Currency:– When was the material written?– Is there evidence of newly added material?– Is the site well maintained?

• Recognition:– Do others recognize the value of this site?

Currency and recognition

Next Exercise• Identify ONE Web site that provide

information about your topic.• Provide the following information

about the Web site:

Web site:• Title:• Author:• Year:• URL: http://

• Answer the following questions about the Web site:

• What is the site’s primary purpose: to inform, educate or promote an idea or product?

• Is this a commercial, educational, governmental or a web site from an organization?

• Who is responsible for the web site?

• Why you selected this web site?