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Criteria for Evaluating
Web Sites:
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Questions to ask yourself
BEFORE you use the web site
as a research source:
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1. Authority/Credibility
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- Is this site sponsored by a professional organization or a university?
- Is there an email address or phone number so you can contact the creators if you have specific questions about the content?
- Do the authors/creators have authority to speak about the subject? What are their credentials?
- Do the authors/creators cite where they found their information?
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2. Purpose/Objectivity
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- What is the purpose of this site? Is this site designed to inform or educate the reader about the topic OR is it meant to persuade or advertise?
- Is there any bias expressed by the writers/creators of this site?
- Does the site end with one of the following final syllables in the URL: edu, .org., gov.?
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3. Currency
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- Is the information on the page updated?
- Are the links working? If not, this is an indication that the site is not being updated often enough.
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4. Coverage
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- Does this site cover your topic well enough to use it as a valid research source?
- Is the content clear and appropriate for this particular research assignment?
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