Evaluating Information Resources

Why do I need to know this?
Evaluating the information you find is essential in conducting quality research. It is especially critical when using the World Wide Web.

The Web offers a wide variety of accessible information, but not all information on the Web is reliable for research. While quantity is readily available from a wide variety of sources, the quality of Web information varies greatly. Smart Web users know they need to evaluate a site before they use it. Instructors appreciate it when you have evaluated and selected good sites for your research.

How do I evaluate a web resource?
Applying some general criteria will help you sort through your sources and select the best ones to use.

Sometimes you will be able apply the criteria and easily tell the quality of a resource just by looking at the information the resource has readily available. If you cannot easily tell the quality of a reource you may need to check other reliable sources to verify their credibility.