 |
|
|
|
There are five main categories to consider when evaluating all information sources: purpose, coverage, authority, accuracy and currency.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- What is the purpose?
- Who is the target audience?
- What is the subject matter?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Is there a range of different subjects covered?
- What is the level of detail?
- Is the source comprehensive?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Is the individual or organization reputable?
- Is there contact information?
- Who developed the site?
- Notice the domain aspect of the Web address:
- "edu" - Education sites or academic institutions.
- "gov" - Government agencies/non-military.
- "org" - Used by organizations and includes nonprofits.
- "com" - Commercial or corporation sites.
- "us" - often cities, or counties within the United States
- "net" - networks, internet service providers, organizations.
- "mil" - U.S. military sites and agencies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Are there any typographical, spelling, or grammatical errors?
- Are the data primary or secondary?
- Does the information appear to be valid and well researched?
- Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
- Is the language free of emotion-rousing words and bias?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Is the information up to date? When was it last modified?
- If the information is not current, is it relevant?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Is there an archive of the messages available?
- Is the list open to non-members?
- Who would you contact to get more information about the list?
|
|
|
![[Skip Navigation]](/images/pixel.gif){kind=tracking}
