Evaluating Internet Sites
Unlike
books and journals, there are no editors, proofreaders, reviewers, or anything
similar monitoring the World Wide Web. Part of using any source in research
involves evaluation, and this takes on extra importance when dealing with such
an open medium as the Internet. When anyone can create a website about
anything, searching includes not only finding material, but finding valid
material. The “5 W’s” described below should be considered carefully before you
use what you have found in your work.
Who?
Who is the author or creator? Are they
qualified in the field?
Can
you verify their qualifications? Saying “expert” only involves typing 6 letters, but a degree or teaching at
a college can be proven.
For groups or associations, who is the
authority responsible? A support
group for sufferers of a disease is different from an official organization. Are there any disclaimers on the site?
What?
The quote and/or sections you want to use
don’t exist by themselves. Look at the
section you want to quote and its immediate surroundings.
Also look at the site as a whole –
sections, layout, text, images, etc.
This is especially important if you “surfed” directly to the site instead of starting at the first page.
When?
When was the site created? Updated? How
often is it updated? Take a look at the
updating policy, if available. Also look at the sources the site used – how recent are they? How current are the links?
Where?
Domain names: com, edu,
org, gov, and others. Each of these gives a different clue about the site:
com-commercial; edu-education; org- organization; gov-government.
As with “What?” above, look at the larger
picture. Is it a section of another site? Examine that as well. Is this a personal site hosted by a more
reputable one? Many colleges, for
example, give free web space to students – as “edu”.
Why?
Will this
help your assignment? Can you use it to support your arguments – or is it an alternate view you need to discuss?
Why is it
available? Why did the creator take the time to make it available? Is there any bias – does the site and/or author favor
one position or another? Is it trying to
sell something?
DISABLED STUDENTS: Any student who is a “qualified individual with a disability” as defined by Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the