Evaluating Internet Sources

            G O A L :

        • General Search Directories
        • Academic Search Directories
        • General Search Engines
        • Academic Search Engines
        • International Search Engines . you will love this!!!
        • How to Evaluate Web Sites
        • Government Sources
        • Looking for Statistics
        • Link to Citing & Documenting Internet Sources


              Exercise:
          1. Take this:   pre - q u i z   to find out what your
              concept is regarding Internet resources


            Common Misconseptions:

        • q = everything is on the Internet
          a = most of the scholarly materials has not been
          entered yet!

        • q = all published materials are FREE
          a = not true - Many scholarly Web sites ask for a
          password

        • q = if published on the Internet, it must be good
          a = not true - many reference sources are still
          only available in print


            Introducing Search Engines:

        • DIRECTORIES
        • ACADEMIC   s e a r c h   e n g i n e s
        • GENERAL   s e a r c h   e n g i n e s
            government sources
            internet search tools
            interntional search engines


              Exercise:
          1. use   Colossus
              a. select a country
              b. choose one search engine, and
              c. find your local newspaper

          2. use   Country based Search Engines
              a. select the country which borders you
              b. choose one search engine, and
              c. find a charity [ = an organization which
                  is collecting money to help a special cause ]


            How to Evaluate Web Sites :

          A.   A u t h o r i t y   &   A c c u r a c y

          • is the author identified
          • are his / her credentials listed
          • is there a sponsoring institution listed


              Exercise:
          1. Evaluate the following Web links regarding
          authority & accuracy.
            OncoLink
            Tobacco Control Archives
            MMWR
            CIOLEK.COM
          2. Find:
              a. one (1) Web site which in your judgement is
                   authoritative & accuarate; and
              b. one (1) which is not.

          3. Read: Web Research Evaluation Checklist


          B.   O b j e c t i v i t y

          • is the purpose clearly stated
          • is the information impartially presented



              Exercise:
          1. Evaluate the following Web links regarding
          objectivity.
            worldwidelabs.com
            National Right to Life

          2. Find:
              a. one (1) Web site which in your judgement
                   is objective; and
              b. one (1) which is not.


          C.   C o v e r a g e

          • does the link satisfy the needs of the
            audience
          • is the topic covered comprehensively



              Exercise:
          1. Evaluate the following Web links regarding
              coverage: healthfinder

          2. Find:
              a. one (1) Web site which in your judgement
                  covers the topic well; and
              b. one (1) which is not.


          D.   U p - t o - d a t e

          • link updated lately
          • are the links up-to-date



              Exercise:
          1. Evaluate the following links regarding currency:
            USA Today
            CNN

          2. Find:
              a. one (1) Web site which in your judgement is
                  current, up-to-date; and
              b. one (1) which is not.


            Citing Internet Resources:


              Exercise:
          1. Take a look at:   Guide to Citing Internet Resources
              to get familiar with the format of citing these resources

          2. Cite:
              a. one (1) article from a periodical found in HTML
                   format and
              b. one (1) article in PDF format

      Wolfhard Touchard, M. L. S. - Retired Reference & Database Librarian
      Andrews University   -   March   2010