Why Evaluate?
Is everything we read on the internet true?
No!
What important person should you look for when considering an online source?
The author
What does it mean to check the "currency" of a website?
Check the date it was published
Why should we be wary of wikis like Wikipedia and others?
They can be edited by anyone and may not always be accurate.
What is a primary source?
direct evidence or first-hand accounts of events
Should we continue to use a website if we have decided it is not a trustworthy site?
No!
What does "peer-reviewed" mean?
The work has been submitted for review by multiple experts in the field of study.
Where is a good place online to find scholarly and peer-reviewed journal articles?
Library Databases
What is a better purpose for creating the source when doing research - to educate or sell a product?
To educate
What is a secondary source?
information that was created after an event by someone who did not experience the event themselves
Name one method or acronym to help remember a way to evaluate resources and explain each letter.
CARS - Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support
What do an author's credentials mean?
Their degree(s) or qualifications that make them an expert on the subject
Why are references important in an online source?
References to other works tell us that other professionals and experts have verified the information is true.
Should your online source contain more facts or more opinions?
More facts
What are footnotes and bibliographies?
Why might someone be motivated to post information online that isn't true?
Many reasons - they may be financially sponsored to do so, they may ignorant of the actual facts, they may just be positing an opinion
What does "scholarly" mean?
The work has been written by an expert in the field who is usually associated with an academic institution (like a university).
Why is it important to have an up-to-date or more recent publishing date?
This means the information is more likely to be accurate and true.
Why should a source be on a completed website that is easy to navigate and likely to stay online for a longer period of time?
This tells us it was more likely to have been created by a professional and the information is more likely to be true and reliable.
What does the sponsorship of the website tell us?
The organization who uploaded the information may or may not be biased.
Why must we always evaluate online sources when doing research?
Not everything we read is true and we want our projects to be as accurate and informative as possible!
Why should we question an author or source?
Anyone can publish information online; learning about the author tells us if we can trust the information or not.
Why should a page be free of advertising?
Advertising means the author or website may have been paid to create or upload the information, which means it may be less accurate.
Why should we question the purpose and audience of a source?
Sources should distinguish between facts and opinions and be at the appropriate level for your research.
How should a reliable source be designed and appear online?
It should be professional looking, visually pleasing, with correct grammar and spelling