Evaluate Web Sites
Anyone can publish anything on the web and it is crucial to fully evaluate a web site before using it for your research.
Evaluation Questions to Ask:
- Why is it on the Web? Is someone trying to sell you something? State an opinion? Describe a pastime? Increase access to research material?
- How old is it? When was the last time the web page was updated?
- Who wrote it?Is the author's name (or corporate body) on the web site? Is there an "About Us" or "Contact Us" link?
- Are there links to other documents supporting the validity of claims or statistics? Is there a bibliography or works cited page?
- Where are the web pages coming from? Is it a government site (.gov)? Is it a non-profit organization (.org)? Is it a college or university (.edu)? Is it a commercial site (.com)? Is it an internet service provider (.net)?
Do not use web sites if you do not know who wrote it , why it is on the web, when it was written, or if it has supporting documentation. When in doubt, ask a librarian!
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