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Home > Articles > Evaluating Web Information

Evaluating Information On The Internet

The advent of the Internet made it extremely easy for people to do research from the comfort of their home, dorm room or even the public library. With just the push of a button they can suddenly access thousands of pages on the topic of their choice. The problem is that not all Internet resources are the same. Those hoping to research work online must first start by thinking about the following things.

Authorship is important to keep in mind because anyone who has access to the Internet can write anything they want. A twelve-year-old boy from California can go online and post an article about psychology and a student who finds that site might use it as a resource. It's difficult to confirm that the information found online is researched and written by an experienced person.

Origin & Accuracy

Where the article or piece comes from is another question to ask. Some websites list no affiliation on their page, nor do they list the name of the author. This means that it’s hard to determine who wrote it, where it came from and if the information is correct. The best thing to do is use resources with a main page that has a government or educational affiliation and one that lets viewers contact the writer.

Next the reader needs to look at the accuracy of the written word. They need to know if the writer is the original writer. If they aren’t the original author, then the reader needs to find out where the quotes and information came from. The right websites have footnotes or endnotes listed so that readers have the option of finding more information and reading the original work.

Reliability & Credibility

Content on the web is also different from published content because of the lack of reviews or filters. When a book or newspaper article is published, the fact checker runs through the entire article looking for inconsistencies. Those writing online don’t always have the same option. There is no built-in fact checker or peer review system.

This also leads to the problem of reliability and credibility. With peer reviewed articles and books, the credibility of the author is always assured. If he or she publishes something inaccurate, their career may never recover. The problem with online writers is because of the anonymity and use of pen names, they never have to worry about being perfectly accurate and reliable.

Questions To Keep In Mind . . .

Remember to ask yourself these questions when looking for reputable resources online:

• Who is the author? Is he/she an expert on the topic?
• Is this the original place the content was published? How should it be cited?
• Are the facts accurate? Do they match up with what I've learned about the topic?
• Am I sure that the information provided in this article is credible?

Resources For Evaluating Internet Information:

• Evaluating Internet Resources: sets forth different criteria that users should look for when using a web resource.
• Georgetown University Library: gives a list of questions to ask before using a web resource.
• The A B C Ds of Evaluating Internet Resources: focuses on the four criteria that people should use when looking for information online.
• User’s Guide to the Internet: government guidelines on using Internet sources.
• Evaluating Web Sites: offers tips and advice on evaluating sites before using them as a resource.

Besides listing reviews of Internet Service Providers, our site provides helpful articles on topics related to High Speed Internet access, including privacy & security, using the Web for research, and effective online communication.