Research Help

   Creating Citations and Bibliographies 

 Encylopedias 

Web Site Evaluation

Authority. Who says? Know the author.

    * Who created this information and why?
    * Do you recognize this author or their work?
    * What knowledge or skills do they have in the area?
    * Is he or she stating fact or opinion?
    * What else has this author written?
    * Does the author acknowledge other viewpoints and theories?

Objectivity. Is the information biased? Think about perspective.

    * Is the information objective or subjective?
    * Is it full of fact or opinion?
    * Does it reflect bias? How?
    * How does the sponsorship impact the perspective of the information?
    * Are a balance of perspectives represented?
    * Could the information be meant as humorous, a parody, or satire?

Authenticity. Is the information authentic? Know the source.

    * Where does the information originate?
    * Is the information from an established organization?
    * Has the information been reviewed by others to insure accuracy?
    * Is this a primary source or secondary source of information?
    * Are original sources clear and documented?
    * Is a bibliography provided citing the sources used?

Reliability. Is this information accurate? Consider the origin of the information.

    * Are the sources truth worthy? How do you know?
    * Who is sponsoring this publication?
    * Does the information come from a school, business, or company site?
    * What's the purpose of the information resource: to inform, instruct, persuade, sell? Does this matter?
    * What's their motive?

Timeliness. Is the information current? Consider the currency and timeliness of the information.

    * Does the page provide information about timeliness such as specific dates of information?
    * Does currency of information matter with your particular topic?
    * How current are the sources or links?

Relevance. Is the information helpful? Think about whether you need this information.

    * Does the information contain the breadth and depth needed?
    * Is the information written in a form that is useable (i.e. reading level, technical level)?
    * Is the information in a form that is useful such as words, pictures, charts, sounds, or video?
    * Do the facts contribute something new or add to your knowledge of the subject?
    * Will this information be useful to your project?

Efficiency. Is this information worth the effort? Think about the organization and speed of information access.

    * Is the information well-organized including a table of contents, index, menu, and other easy-to-follow tools for navigation?
    * Is the information presented in a way that is easy to use (i.e., fonts, graphics, headings)?
    * Is the information quick to access?

 Sited from http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic32.htm