United States History: Finding Web Sites

If you'd like some extra help evaluating web sources, try this tutorial.

Evaluating Information - Online Tutorial

This module is designed to take about 10 minutes to complete and includes lots of examples and some interactive practice.

Because anyone can contribute, and you don't want to monkey around when it comes to research!

Consider these factors when evaluating websites:

Currency: The timeliness of the information

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has the information been revised or updated?
• Does your topic require current information?

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your questions?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Would you be comfortable citing this source in your paper?

Authority: The source of the information

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• What are the author's credentials?
• Does the url reveal anything about the source? examples: .com .edu .gov. org .net

Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the information

• Where does the information come from?
• Has the information been reviewed?
• Does the language seem unbiased?
• Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?

Purpose: The reason the information exists

• What is the purpose? To teach, inform, sell, entertain, or persuade?
• Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
• Are there biases?

Meriam Library - California State University Chico