Transcript Do Screencasts Really Work? - University of Michigan Library

Evaluating
Information
on the Web
Getting the Most Out of Your
Resources
After This Presentation,
You Will Be Able To:
• Evaluate web information
using the 5 Ws.
• Recognize questionable web
information sources.
• Identify appropriate
information on the web to
integrate into your projects.
We Know You’ve Heard This Before…
• Google and Wikipedia are
not always reliable, etc.
• So why are we saying it
again?
• Taking initiative and
choosing the best sources
can lead to better projects
and better grades.
Image courtesy of MLibrary
Understanding Bias and Objectivity:
Is This Information Reliable?
• Information from only one point of view, or biased
information, can be unreliable.
• Bias can be difficult to detect, especially when we
agree with the point of view put forward.
• Websites that address controversial topics or use
words such as "all" or "never" may be biased toward
one point of view, even if they mention the other
side of the argument.
• Ask yourself if the website is using images or
language that is trying to appeal to your emotions. If
so, it is probably not objective.
How can you easily evaluate
information on the web?
Just ask yourself
 Who?
 What?
 Where?
 When?
 Why?
Image courtesy of gavinandrewstewart at flicker.com
Who?
• Who wrote the information?
• What are the author’s credentials?
• Who sponsors or publishes the site?
Compare the authors of these two web sites.
• Solar System Exploration: Planets: Pluto
• Pluto: The Planet Pluto
While the information may be accurate on both sites,
use the more reliable source.
What?
• What is the purpose of the site?
• What information is presented?
• What information is missing?
Compare these two sites:
CO2 Science
Global Warming
Determining the purpose of a site can
help you figure out if it’s objective,
biased, or omitting other viewpoints.
Image courtesy of
alexanderdrachmann at
flickr.com
Where?
• Where does the information come from?
• Are there links to reliable external web sites?
• Where can I verify the information presented?
Compare these two. Which do you trust?
• Mercola.Com: Take Control of Your Health
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Good sites tell you from where they got their
information. Look for citations to sources & links to
good web sites.
When?
• Is the information current for the
topic at hand?
• Has it been updated recently?
Is this webpage current?
FinAid Saving for College
Having the most up to date information is
critical for many kinds of research.
Image courtesy of Lucius Beebe
Memorial Library at flickr.com
Why?
• Why would you use this information over other information
available?
• How does it fit your research goals?
• What are you trying to prove with the information you find?
If you wanted to write an objective report of a recent news event,
would you use the information at this site?
If you wanted to write a paper about perceptions of media bias,
would you use the information at this site?
So while a source may be inappropriate for one paper,
it can be perfect for another!
Remember…
When evaluating sources for a research project:
Just ask yourself
 Who?
 What?
 Where?
 When?
 Why?