Web Resources:
Evaluation and Citation

Reasons to Evaluate Web Resources

1. Anyone can publish on the Web.  It is a "self-publishing" medium.
2. The fastest growing area of the Web is commercial sites.  It is important to note the distinction between promotion and real information.
3. The fact that information appears on the Web does not necessarily make it reliable.
4. The value of a resource, and its ability to meet someone's information requirements, will vary depending on the person and his/her level of understanding.
5. Internet resources are constantly changing.
6. Editorial input/control is often lacking.  The quality controls used in print publishing are usually lacking with online resources.
7. It is sometimes difficult to determine a web page's authorship or sponsorship.
   

Evaluation Web Sites:

Criteria For Evaluation of Internet Information Resources

http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/
evaln/index.htm

This is a "toolbox" of criteria that can help you evaluate information found on the Internet.

Evaluating Internet Resources

http://library.albany.edu/
internet/evaluate.html

The University at Albany Libraries provides a brief review of essential web site components that should be considered when using web sites for research.

Evaluation Rubrics For Websites

http://www.siec.k12.in.us/
~west/online/eval.htm

This site provides access to three different forms (primary grades, intermediate grades, and secondary grades) which students can use to numerically grade web sites using a variety of different factors.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Or Why It Is A Good Idea To Evaluate Web Sources

http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/ eval.html     

Examples of reliable, authoritative web sites are contrasted with false, misleading web sites.  Evaluation criteria are listed with helpful checklist questions, and suggestions for successful Internet assignments are also provided.

ICYouSee: T Is For Thinking

http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.html

This web site offers suggestions to consider when using the Web for research including: making sure you are in the right place, doubting resources without pertinent or true information, considering the source, and looking at details.

Kathy Schrock's Guide For Educators:
Critical Evaluation Surveys

http://school.discovery.com/
schrockguide/eval.html

To help students learn to critically evaluate a web page for authenticity, applicability, authorship, bias, and usability, Kathy Schrock has designed a series of evaluation surveys (one each at the elementary, middle, and secondary school levels) that are freely available on this web site.  There is also an extensive list with links of critical evaluation information by others.

Lake Forest College Library:
Evaluating Web Sites

http://www.lib.lfc.edu/help/evalweb.html

This web site is hosted by the Lake Forest College Library.  Authority, objectivity, accuracy, coverage, and currency for evaluating web sites are all documented with good and questionable sites to review.

Multnomah County Library Homework Center:
Evaluating Web Sites

http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/
lib/homework/webeval.html

Multnomah County Library provides a comprehensive introduction for both students and adults on evaluating web sites for research.

Teacher's CyberGuide

http://www.cyberbee.com/guides.html

A media specialist designed this "WWW Cyberguide - Ratings for Content Evaluation" worksheet that could easily be reproduced and/or adapted for personal/classroom use.Testing the Surf: Criteria for Evaluating Internet Information Resources

Citation of Web Resources:

APA Style

http://www.apastyle.org/
elecref.html

Directly from the American Psychological Association (APA) style's web site are explanations on documenting the use of electronic media and URLs, general forms for electronic references, reference examples for electronic source materials, and citations in the text of electronic material.