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     EVALUATING CREDIBLE WEBSITES
     
     
    Many features should be considered when evaluating the overall quality of a website's content. Important questions to ask when evaluating websites include:

     

    Does the page have authority?—Websites should provide details on where the information is coming from.

    Always look for:

    • Who is the author?
    • What are his or her credentials and how are they connected to the information?
    • Is the source of information cited?

     

    What is the domain name?—Domain names tell us who the producer of the website is, and the purpose of the website.           

    .com = Commercial                  Commercial (and some non-commercial) websites

    .org = Organizational               Non-profit agencies and open-source sites (may have an agenda)

    .edu = Education                      Educational (higher education) and research institutions

    .mil = Military                         United States Department of Defense and subsidiaries

    .gov = Government                 United States government agencies

    .net = Network                        Wide variety of commercial and non-commercial sites

     

    Is there any bias/objectivity?—Websites should provide facts and/or well-informed analyses. It should not be comprised of unsupported opinions. The tone should not be overly emotional; it should be level and calm.

     

    What is the currency of the website?—Always check to see when the site was last updated. A date should be somewhere on the site. The currency of the information is particularly important when considering scientific and/or medical websites.

     
     
    If it is good information, make sure it passes the CRAAP Test.
     
    Currency-timeliness of the information
    Relevance- important to your needs
    Authority-source of information
    Accuracy-information is truthful and correct
    Purpose-does information inform, entertain, or persuade?