No matter where you find information you must determine if
it is a credible and reliable source to use for research. Use the following
criteria to evaluate:
AUTHORITY
Who is the
author? Is having a name enough? Is the person an authority in this field? Establishing authority (credentials of the author) should be the first step in
evaluation. If you cannot find an
author’s name, seriously reconsider using that source. Remember also that an author can be an
organization, government agency, advocacy group, etc.
CURRENCY
Can you tell
how current the information is? When was it last updated? Can
you even FIND a date? If something about the topic has changed (a new law, a
person was executed, etc.) since the page was revised, you could be using wrong
information in your paper. Always
double-check with another source to make sure you’re getting the latest
information. If you cannot pinpoint a
site’s currency, don’t use it.
FACTUAL
OR BIASED?
Most sites
will have some inherent bias. Is it a commercial
site? If they are only trying to sell something, proceed with caution. .orgs are great sources of information, but
are biased by their very nature (Planned Parenthood, Right to Life, e.g.). This doesn’t mean you can’t use them – just
be aware of the bias, and balance it with more objective, factual pages
whenever possible (American Medical Association, WebMD,
e.g.).
SCHOLARLY OR POPULAR?
Remember your Magazines vs. Journals handout? Same principles apply here. The information may be completely accurate
and reliable, but if it was written for a non-scholarly audience, it may not be
the best choice for a research paper. .edus are good sources of scholarly
information, though this will vary.
UNIQUE INFORMATION?
Did you find
the site after you had done all your library research with books and
databases? Does this piece contribute something unique your paper? Does it offer something that other sources do
not? After having evaluated for all the
above criteria, don’t select it simply because it’s “on my topic”. Make sure that it contributes to the overall
balance of your paper.
For links to
more information on evaluating, visit our Internet Links page at
http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/library/internetlinks/internet.htm#Evaluating